LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen voted unanimously Monday to apply for a $350,000 Community Development Block Grant to be used to build a new 13,600- to 13,700-square-foot medical arts center downtown.
Franklin Community Health Network would be responsible for the 25 percent required match. The Network is a locally controlled, nonprofit, integrated network of rural health-care providers, created by Franklin Memorial Hospital in 1991.
The plan is to build a $4 million center on Main Street, adjacent to the Chuck Wagon Restaurant and Treasure Chest, Kevin Bunker, a consultant working on the project, told selectmen during a public hearing Monday night.
The existing building that is attached to the restaurant would be torn down and a new one built in its place.
Bunker said there would be two entrances to the new building, including one on a Main Street. It would be a one story building but it would like a two-story building from the outside due to facade enhancements.
There would be parking created for 52 to 54 vehicles, he said.
Currently, the hospital has two medical offices in town that together are about 7,600 square feet, he said. So the new space would be nearly double of what exists now and have the capacity to treat more patients, he said.
It is expected that between 130 to 140 patients would be treated each day, he said.
There would be 26 employees working in the building.
If the building is completed, the Franklin Health Livermore Falls Family Practice and Franklin Memorial Hospital Outpatient Services would be located there. Among the services to be offered would be radiography, family practice, specialists, behavior counseling and a women’s center.
A letter of intent to apply for the public facilities grant has been submitted, Bunker said. The application is due in January.
There was a sketch plan meeting with the Livermore Falls Planning Board last Thursday.
Resident Ron Chadwick raised concern about the loss of some parking spaces on Main Street, if the entrance to the parking lot is moved as proposed.
Any loss of parking, possibly two to three spaces, would be offset by an increased parking area for the new building, resident Ken Jacques, who owns adjacent property, said.
The building is designed to be compatible to other downtown buildings, Bunker said.
Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce member, Phil Poirier submitted a petition signed by Chamber members that overwhelmingly supports the project, Poirier said. It will be included in the hearing record.
Anyone interested in submitting a letter of support may drop it off or send it to the town office at 2 Main St., Livermore Falls, ME 04254.
Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in the spring next year with completion projected by either late 2011 or early 2012.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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