By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — The Sullivan County Commissioners got a preview of what the proposed improvements estimated to cost $35 million would look like if the project at the Sullivan County Health Care complex in Unity gets the green light from the Sullivan County Delegation.
In an hour-long presentation, officials from Warrenstreet Architects of Concord took the commissioners on a tour of the plan with a set of blueprints that stretched out on the long meeting table at the Woodhull Complex in Newport. There were also several large views of what the new building may look like.
“We’re on schedule to have finished drawings by the end of February,” said Jonathan Halee of Warrenstreet Architects.
Plans call for the new four-story addition to replace the Sanders Building that was constructed in 1931. The available rooms will remain the same with 156 licensed beds. There will also be a rehabilitation suite that can be an income source.
During the construction process, no residents will be moved out, it was stated.
The new building will feature more room around each bed.
There was a focus on the plan for Main Street within the new building. There will be new outlets along with existing ones. There will be a vending area, bank and post office, a general store, barber shop, hair salon and a library that will feature both books and computers, a point expressed by Commissioner Ben Nelson. There will be a chapel and mediation area.
The Health Care complex currently includes the Stearns building, constucted in 1970 and the McConnell unit built in 1997. The Sanders building is closed.
The final step for the project is to gain the approval of the Sullivan County Delegation once all the preliminary work is completed.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.