Yes, it’s still coming.
The $6.5-million nursing home with 80 beds, and over 100 jobs, is still targeted for a US 79-fronting site west of Rock-dale near the intermediate school.
In light of recent business disappointments for Rockdale—the much-anticipated Pari Olefi ns plastics business is not going to locate in the industrial park—there have been concerns about the new facility, which is to replace the currant Renaissance Villa.
DETAILS—Don’t worry, according to Laurie Kunka, business partner in the new facility.
“We are defi nitely coming to Rockdale,” she said. “We’re just working out some of the details.”
One of those details is a city project to extend sewer service to the site, including a new lift station.
“We are in the fi nal design stage and expect to go out for bids in June,” City Manager Chris Whittaker told The Reporter.
The 80-bed facility is being designed so it can be expanded to 120 beds if there is demand.
The current Renaissance Villa is 45 beds.
The 120-bed Rockdale Residence and Rehabilitation Center closed in July, 2014, and many residents went to facilities in other towns.
The current Renaissance Villa is an Alzheimer’s facility, but the new nursing home will have a variety of patients, although it will still house Alzheimer’s patients.
SITE—In March, 2017, the Rockdale ISD and Rockdale Senior Care closed a land deal for the school district to sell a six-acre tract for $250,000.
On a 4-2 vote in November, 2016, trustees agreed to sell the tract, located in a far northwestern corner of land owned by the RISD, away from the school.
Land purchase was termed the “biggest hurdle” for the project.
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