New site sought for Aroostook House of Comfort

     PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Officials with the Aroostook House of Comfort project are looking for a new site for the facility, after tests at the Caribou Road location originally designated for construction determined clay content in the ground would cause building costs to increase.
A letter to George Howe, the city’s code enforcement officer, explained what brought about the decision to look for property elsewhere.
“Thanks to you and the Zoning Board of Appeals for approving our request for a special exemption to build the Aroostook House of Comfort at 255 Caribou Rd. Unfortunately, during the test pit phase of the construction process, we encountered a serious problem with the composition of the ground area in front of the proposed building extending to the roadway. Our earthwork contractor and the architect reported that the top 18 inches of soil was the normal black soil of decayed material, with the next three to four feet of blue clay,” said Michael MacPherson, vice chairman of the AHC board.
As a result, MacPherson noted the cost to address the problem would be prohibitive.
“The estimated cost of remediation of the area to accept a driveway and parking lot was beyond the realm of economic feasibility. At our board meeting Oct. 28, a decision was made to look further for a location to construct the AHC,” MacPherson wrote.
As a result, MacPherson requested Howe to “cancel our exemption for construction on U.S. Route 1.” He thanked Howe for his time and effort in “aiding us on our project to provide a facility for hospice and palliative care for folks in Aroostook County.”
In an interview last week, MacPherson indicated the project is still planned for the area, just at a different location.
“We’re still invested in it. We have land options. We can either give the (Caribou Road) property back, sell it or trade it. We’re still looking for a site on the Caribou Road,” said MacPherson, adding, “This is not a Presque Isle project but a County project.”
He said AHC officials have looked at already-constructed facilities but they’d rather build something designed specifically for use as a hospice home.
“We want something with a homelike environment, with the design as we’ve established,” he said.
MacPherson said hopes were to have everything ready to go out to bid by spring, but plans may be delayed unless a suitable property is found soon.
“Our goal was to have the architect’s drawing ready and go to bid by spring. We still have some fund-raising to do. We’re still looking for a site. If anyone knows of a location or is interested in donating a parcel of land, we’d love to hear from them,” said MacPherson.
He said fund-raising has reached the halfway mark.
“Of the estimated $2.5 million needed to construct the facility, we’re about half there. This will cover not just construction of the building but equipment for inside the building and whatever’s needed,” said MacPherson.
According to the website, www.aroostookhouseofcomfort.com, “The Aroostook House Foundation, Inc. … plans to construct Aroostook County’s first free-standing hospice house. The six-bed facility will provide quality, compassionate, palliative and end-of-life care for patients and their families. The Aroostook House of Comfort will provide support and care for the terminally ill patient, their family and friends in a home-like environment. The goal is to ensure the patient has quality time in an atmosphere of peace, comfort, hope, compassion and tranquility.”
For more information or to make a donation, call 769-2402.