SANFORD — Sandy River Company, which plans a 90-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center to replace the aging Newton Center, hopes to begin construction in the summer or fall of next year, and with a view to open in fall 2019.

Daniel Maguire, one of the principals of the Portland-based Sandy River Company, on Tuesday said the corporation expects to submit its request to the state for a Certificate of Need within the next couple of weeks. The corporation must also obtain city permits for the project.

Southern Maine Health Care currently operates the 50-year old, 74-bed Newton Center nursing home, a 24-bed memory care facility called The Pavilion and a 14-bed residential care facility called Hillcrest Gardens. SMHC announced the plans by Sandy River Company in September. Once the new facility is built, all three existing facilities will close and will be removed from the site on the SMHC campus.

Mayor Tom Cote said the city is thrilled at the prospect of being home to a new skilled nursing center.

“It represents a major investment,” in the city, he said.

Cote said there is some concern in the community about displacements of folks living in the memory care facility — the new facility will not have a memory care component.

Those who live at the Pavilion will transition to other memory care facilities and SMHC is working with families to make those plans, Maguire said. One such residence clients may transition to is Avita, a new, 60-bed Sandy River-owned facility in Wells. 

Sandy River Company owns 11 nursing care facilities in Maine, all operated by Genesis Healthcare, Inc. of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a holding company with subsidiaries that, on a combined basis, operate 450 skilled nursing centers and senior living communities in 29 states nationwide, according to their website. Genesis Healthcare, Inc. has recently restructured.

The new Sanford facility will be built on land owned by SMHC between the current Newton Center building and a hospital-owned wellness center on July Street. Maguire was at Tuesday’s City Council meeting seeking approval to discontinue a portion of July Street to accommodate the new building. The preliminary nod for that will be followed by a public hearing and then final decision. City Manager Steve Buck noted there are only two abutters involved, SMHC and a property owner who has already given approval.

The new 90-bed facility will feature 58 private rooms, with private baths. Those currently living at the Newton Center will be offered first preference, SMHC officials have previously said.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Councilor Lucas Lanigan of the project. 

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.