Can timeline to build a veterans' nursing home be shortened? That's the goal
Liz FreemanNaples Daily News
Collier leaders hope to speed up the timeline for a veterans' nursing home getting built.
Collier County staff will draft documents for donating 22 acres at the Golden Gate Golf Course to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs for the state-based project.
The documents will involve a deed transfer and escrow agreement while the county waits for the project’s approval from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The nursing home will be built by the state with federal funding if approved; the county will cover what the state is required to contribute.
In addition, an informal appraisal of the land site at Golden Gate Parkway and Collier Boulevard will be done.
More: Are veterans getting their due in Naples? What's here, what's coming and what's needed
Collier County Commissioner Saunders pushing to speed up veterans project
Collier Commissioner Burt Saunders, who has been at the forefront of the 120-bed nursing home along with outpatient services, asked the commission on Tuesday to approve drafting the documents. His goal is to shorten the wait where possible for the start of the project in 2026, assuming the federal VA approves it.
The project is in Saunders' district. He is running for reelection this fall.
The board agreed unanimously with no discussion.
Related: Collier leaders get update on plans for veterans nursing home at golf course site
Collier has roughly 24,000 veterans, many of whom will need long-term care. Local veterans and their support organizations are backing the county’s plans.
The project will include adult day care services and outpatient therapy on the nursing home campus, something the state has not done before with any of its other veterans nursing homes.
What did the Collier County Commission approve?
Applications to the federal VA were submitted April 9 for the Collier project to be considered a state priority based on the veteran population and bed need. A list of approved projects from the federal VA is expected in 2025.
“My proposal is for our staff to develop the deed and develop an escrow agreement so that the property can be held in escrow by the state agency,” Saunders said. “And then once funding is available there’s no delay in providing that property, but it will be in escrow similar to the $30 million.”
The commission initially committed $30 million from the county’s 1-cent sales surtax for the project which is being held in escrow. Last summer the board pledged another $10 million to cover construction of adult day care and outpatient therapy services.
In addition the state Legislature through state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, of Naples, secured $10.5 million for the project.
The title to the land will not transfer until there is federal approval for the project so there’s no risk to the county, which will be spelled out in the escrow agreement, Saunders said.
“The second part of this is that we’re telling the story to the federal Department of Veteran Affairs that the county taxpayers have put $40 million into this project. And the state of Florida has put $10.5 million into it,” he said. “And we have a piece of land that is probably worth somewhere around $12 to $14 million,”
The county has in-house appraisal capability which can be done informally and not cost anything, he said.
What is the timeline for the veteran's nursing home?
The current timeline calls for construction to start in 2026 with the federal government covering 65% of the project cost and the county covering the state’s required share of 35%.
With a November 2026 groundbreaking, the project could open to veterans by July 2029, state officials told the commissioners in an April workshop.
A cost estimate is $109 million although $4.4 million is added for contingencies for a total of $114 million.
The federal government’s share would be $74 million with $40 million coming from the county as the state portion.
The nursing home would encompass 110,000 square feet of building space with six 20-bed units, according to state VA officials.
The rooms are designed for single occupancy but spouses of veterans will be allowed to live at the nursing home with their loved ones under a bill that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law June 20.
The adult day care services in a separate area will have its own entrance. It is proposed to accommodate 40 clients. There also will be space for wellness programs for veterans from the community.
