MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The opening for the new headquarters of Milan Puskar Health Right appears to have experienced a delay.
The move to the soon-to-be new location for the nonprofit on 10 Scott Avenue has been put on hold due to the finalization of a nearby land transaction that has affected utility right-of-way, delaying the move in the process. Milan Puskar Health Right Executive Director Laura Jones addressed the delay in front of Morgantown City Council during their monthly committee of the whole, where she projected that the facility would now be on pace to be open by the end of January 2025.
“In order for us to have all the inspections and occupancy and be prepared to do that, that’s pushing us into January for an actual move date,” said Jones. “At first we thought maybe the 1st of January, but now we’re thinking that it’s going to be later in January,” she said.
According to Jones, the land transaction that involves Cintas Uniform Services includes a utility right-of-way in possession by the seller’s of the property, which prevents utility hook-ups at the Scott Avenue facility. As a result, no operational heat or electricity has been established inside the future Milan Puskar Health Right location since construction began on the site, which has delayed the remodeling of rooms at the three-story site. While the majority of the facility appears to be either complete or close to completion, floor tile installations, ceiling installation, and other infrastructure based work will be put on hold until proper utilities are established.
“We are caught in the sale of the property next to us, so we don’t have right-of-way for electricity and sewage,” said Jones. “And that’s going to be a hold up until that sale goes through,” she said.
Jones also mentioned that agreements are in place, so Milan Puskar Health Right will have utility right-of-way granted to them for the Scott Avenue site once the transaction is completed. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of November, with the utilities scheduled to be fully operational shortly afterward. Once the utilities are established, Jones expects the equipment located at the Spruce Street headquarters to be moved over to the Scott Avenue facility before the end of 2024.
“We are dependent on the sale of that property, and then we will very quickly have the right of way and be able to move forward,” Jones said.
When complete, Jones hopes to have the new Milan Puskar Health Right location be fully operational by the start of February 2025. This will include the offerings of services seen at the soon-to-be closing Spruce Street location, such as harm reduction programs for people suffering from substance abuse, as well as basic medical check-ups and screenings, all located a short walk away from social service hub Hazel’s House of Hope. While the opening of the Scott Avenue location will be delayed by about a couple of months, Jones and the rest of Milan Puskar Health Right are ready to move towards the future.
“We have made every effort to try to get this done on time, and actually, they were going to do the punch list and be ready for us to take possession of the building by the first of November,” Jones said on the desire of the nonprofit to complete the move. “But with this delay, it can’t happen until the water and electric are resolved,” she said.
The new facility costs approximately $2.16 million to complete with the help of financial contributions from the City of Morgantown, Monongalia County Commission, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, and the Milan Puskar Foundation.