MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown said it’s “hopeful” Milan Puskar Health Right will make the move from Spruce Street to its new facility at 10 Scott Avenue by the end of summer.
Health Right Executive Director Laura Jones said the nonprofit is moving steadily in that direction, but there currently is no definite move-in day.
Jones said the Scott Avenue building has passed a fire marshal’s inspection and has water, electricity and a security system in place.
“The phones will be installed shortly, and then we have two other inspections from the Office of Health Facilities and Licensure and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy. We do not have dates scheduled for those as of yet,” Jones said.
It is now more than 27 months beyond the original deadline of March 31, 2023, set by the city when it offered MPHR $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money if the nonprofit would agree to move both its free clinic and mental health drop-in center, Friendship House, out of the downtown area.
The Friendship House moved out of its Walnut Street location in February 2023, but the clinic has proven more complicated — and more expensive — than initially expected.
The project to transform Health Right’s future location from a 6,000-square-foot building into a 9,000-square-foot, multifaceted clinic and office space was just north of $2.2 million according to the last estimates provided to The Dominion Post.
In response, the city has since upped its commitment to $1.1 million. The Monongalia County Commission has put $200,000 into the effort. The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust is providing $550,000, and the Milan Puskar Foundation has committed $300,000.
Health Right sold its longtime home at 341 Spruce St. to Round Table Development LLC last fall for $860,000. As part of that deal, the nonprofit is paying $7,500 monthly in rent on that property until it moves out.
“We understand that Milan Puskar Health Right’s efforts to relocate to Scott Avenue have taken longer than anticipated. We are also aware that their facility has experienced project delays over the past year that were beyond their control and outside the scope of their work,” Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee said. “It’s important to recognize, as with many construction projects, that these delays take time to resolve. While project completion dates depend on numerous factors, we are hopeful the move will take place by the end of summer, allowing Health Right to continue providing vital services to our community from their new location.”
Jones said every effort is being made to do just that.
“We are closer to the move than ever before, but we still cannot project a definite date at this time,” she said. “We are doing the best we can, and we are all anxious to make the move.”
