From the article:
According to three priests who were at meetings with Braxton in March, the bishop-elect said he would like a priest to live in the residence with him for prayer and conversation.
"We don't have any priests to spare," said Stec. "Our priority needs to be to keep the parishes going."
It is not standard operating procedure, and this is a slap at Wilton Gregory, previous bishop of Belleville, who, apparently, lived rather modestly. Braxton is a bit of an aristocrat, who asked, at a shrimp peel in Lake Charles attended by my father-in-law, that someone please peel his shrimp as "he didn't do that sort of thing."
Braxton is being groomed for higher office, possibly a curial appointment or an archdiocese. You folks are merely a stepping-stone.
His idea of importing African priests has been tried by other bishops, with more or less success.
America is a culture shock to these men.
"Is it standard operating procedure for new bishops to remodel their residences,..."
Can't speak to 'bishops' but have been in a few priest residences; the very best of whom appear to need nothing more than a fresh coat of paint - flat white - if even that.
If the bishop required some company there are a fair number of retired priests who no longer can serve in a pastoral capacity whom I suppose could accomodate this need. Seems like an odd request to me though.
If they can't find a priest to move in, they can always go down to the bus station and get a 15 year old hustler to bunk with them, like Bishop Ryan of Springfield, Illinois.
see rcf.org