SAN ANTONIO – It has been more than three years since five people were killed in a fire at the Wedgwood Apartments in Castle Hills.

Now the property's new owner has announced plans to reopen a senior living facility at the same location.  

"We're kind of looking forward to closing a dark chapter in this city and the department," said Castle Hills Fire Chief Darrell Dover, who is looking forward to seeing people live at the apartments again. 　

The apartments are currently being renovated and are expected to reopen in December of 2019 as the Ensemble Apartments. The owner said the units will soon be some of the nicest in town.

Builders are mostly focusing on upgrades in fire safety measures for the complex. Wedgewood was originally not required to have sprinklers by law at the time of the fire.

"The sprinkler plan and the fire plan will be done to today's code. There will be no grandfathering of anything," said Patrick Biernacki of the Ensemble Apartments.　

The Castle Hills Fire Department said in the last three years they have done their part to better prepare for the worst, including purchasing a 100-foot ladder truck.

"We needed a new ladder truck that would adequately reach the 11th floor. The ladder truck we had during the fire was only 75 foot tall, "said Dover.

Construction crews will also install a fire command center in the building to give fire departments full access to the building's systems.