04/14/10 A Major Issue Was Before The Greenwich Board Of Taxation And Estimate Last Night

Greenwich BET Budget Committee Fails To Approve Nathaniel Witherell - 32 Million Dollar Project Renew

Will The BET Budget Committee Aporove The Project Renew Program, Or Will Greenwich Have To Start The Process Of Clossing Down Nathaniel Witherell.

The $36.8 million renewal project at Nathaniel Witherell nursing home, an undertaking that supporters said is long overdue at the aging facility.

The current $36.8 million price tag doesn't include an estimated $2 million in additional financing and interest costs associated with bonding for the project.

First Selectman Peter Tesei and the other selectmen signed off on the project last January, But BET Member Michael Mason's Budget Committee has been dragging its feet on this vital town project.

The town will be lucky to start construction by Thankgiving of this year.

The three major structures on the nursing home's 20-acre campus range in age from the 35-year-old tower and nearly 50-year-old west building to the 107-year-old administration building.

At the present time, the Nathaniel Witherell is like some of our elderly citizens. It needs somesome intensive care.

The renovation and expansion, known as Project Renew, will include replacing a wing, adding space for short-term rehabilitation services and overhauling the current administration building.

Construction on the 202-bed Parsonage Road facility. is expected to take 28 to 30 months.

Plans call for the buildings' interiors to be completely gutted and modernized with warm colors and code-compliant rooms that are homey and not institutional.

The new facility will feature 72 private rooms, as opposed to the current 27, and will move away from the old ward-style configuration of four beds in some rooms.

MORE INFORMATION:

For Nathaniel Witherell - Project Renew's architectural studies for the long term renewal of services, facilities and amenities is now online. Click here.

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