Further to the news that District council, in closed session discussions at its August 9 meeting, has decided not to pursue the relocation of a redeveloped Fairvern Nursing Home on an Earls Road property offered by the owner of Greystone Construction Pat Dubé, Doppler reached out to Huntsville and District Councillor Tim Withey for comment.
Withey was a former director on the board of Fairvern. While he noted that discussions had been held in a closed session of District council he said the turn of events is unfortunate, particularly as relocating the nursing home to the Earls Road site was envisioned as forming part of a campus of care with the hospital as the anchor.
“It’s disappointing… but I feel that there are two alternatives which will keep Fairvern redeveloped in Huntsville, which is exciting, and hopefully now things will move along quicker,” said Withey.
On November 20, 2020, the province announced that a redeveloped Fairvern would be allotted a total of 160 long-term care beds, making its operation more financially sustainable.
The building is dated and in need of repairs. Had plans not been made to redevelop the home, Fairvern would have had to close as the province indicated it could no longer license the long-term care facility in its current state.
On February 18, 2020, District council agreed to take over the management of the Fairvern Nursing Home from its volunteer board and apply for more beds.
The new site location is expected to be announced this September. It is expected that the tender for construction will take place next fall with construction starting in 2023 and completion anticipated in 2025.
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Mr. Young I agree There has been a “hint” about services ? If that land is not used for the nursing home, two questions arise:
1: Will the land service more condominiums/commercial development – same needs
2 Who is selling or profiting from an other location?
Hopefully, we will have some honest answers soon.?????????????
It still doesn’t answer the question of What was the rationale for the decision. Many of the town’s doctors have already relocated to the Earl’s road area and the hospital is conveniently very close by. Free land from the developer. On the surface this doesn’t make sense to go elsewhere. What was the rationale…or is it just political….?????