From 'The Rock' to The Bookmatch: Sandstone housing project scheduled to open in June

The historic Sandstone school building known colloquially as "The Rock" has been rechristened amid an ongoing housing redevelopment project.

According to a news release from Minneapolis-based historic redevelopment firm Jillpine, the 32-unit rental housing project will officially be called The Bookmatch.

“The name The Bookmatch comes directly from the building itself,” Meghan Elliott, founder and principal of Jillpine, said in the release. “In stoneworking, bookmatching means splitting material and opening it like a book so the two sides mirror each other. Look at the school’s exterior and you’ll see exactly that — a bookmatched design."

Construction on the project began in July of 2025, which is slated to begin accepting rental applications in February and open in June.

The project carries a $17 million price tag and is redeveloping a building that has been vacant since 2004.

The historic Sandstone school was originally built in 1900, and was destroyed by fire after a lightning strike in 1909 before being rebuilt by the community.

"The renovation will retain the school’s historic sandstone exterior and defining architectural features, while the interiors will be entirely new," the release states.

The Bookmatch will focus on local workforce housing, and the release states that the development is aimed at "residents with steady, mid-range incomes, including teachers, healthcare workers, city employees, tradespeople, and others who work in and around Pine County."

“Communities like Sandstone don’t just need more housing units; they need housing that fits the scale, character, and economics of the place,” Elliott said in the release. “Reusing this building allows us to deliver quality homes while preserving something the community already cares about.”

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