La Junta nursing home preliminary sketches approved

Jul. 26--On Wednesday at noon, the work session for the proposed La Junta Nursing Home was beginning at Inspiration Field. After luncheon, architects from WDM Architects in Wichita, Kan., presented their preliminary drawings for the individual home units and the plat for the site location.

Architect Stan Landwehr took the floor first to explain the sketch of the individual home unit. His object was to get input for the more finished sketch he would present later. Landwehr said several basic plans had been discussed, but this one allowed for the best amount of space in each room and the best location for the bathrooms in the rooms.

He also said they had discussed having the houses close enough together to share some rooms, such as physical therapy and laundry. It made more sense to have an industrial sized laundry room in each two houses than to transport laundry to the central administration building/gathering place. The homes would be connected with a short covered breezeway. Plans must be submitted to the state for approval, and are contingent on state approval.

Each house will have a secure courtyard in addition to the large common courtyard. There is room in the plan for another two houses, if the need to expand arises. "It's better to plan for possible expansion than to try to figure it out later," said Architect Matt Schindler, who showed the sketch of the buildings and roads on the site.

"We walked the site last night," said Schindler. "There is a dominant ridge from the existing barn to the water tower. We have located the site over the ridge into the administration building from the road (San Juan Avenue) to give maximum view from the houses. Possible independent living duplexes could be located south of the present site if need arose in the future."

Questioned about the cost, Landwehr said, "We always try to give the most program for the dollars available and as aesthetically pleasing as possible." They will stay within the budget. The group adjourned about 1:45, to come back at 3:30 to see more detailed sketches to be rendered with a view to comments from the local group.

At 3:30, the La Junta group was quite pleased with the sketches, but asked lots of questions. DeLeon noted that parking for the administration was facing away from the houses, so that staff and visitors arriving at night would not be shining headlights into the houses where people were sleeping. "It's the little details that matter," said DeLeon. "WD Architects think of the little things -- that's why they're good."

The countdown to beginning construction may begin when the application is approved for Medicaid recipients by the State of Colorado. In all the time between that date, expected to be Aug. 31 (the application is being reviewed now and is in the public comment stage), and the time the project reaches the head of the queue for construction, plans will be finalized and preparations started so that the contractor may be engaged and ground broken quickly. DeLeon is hoping to beat cold weather.

The meeting ended with a celebratory toast to the new nursing home with sparkling apple cider.

bmcfarren@ljtdmail.com

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