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Penobscot County‑funded transitional housing project moves to contractor selection; construction slated to start this summer
Summary
Project partners reported a construction manager selection and an estimated budget near $2.2M for a new wing and site work connected to transitional housing; planning staff said they expect to break ground in July or August and complete the project to meet funding deadlines.
County partners and project developers updated commissioners on a county‑funded expansion of transitional housing and shelter facilities operated by local health and housing agencies.
Penobscot Community Healthcare (PCHC) and partnering providers presented final schematic plans and said the project team solicited construction manager proposals, received five qualified responses and selected Nixon O’Day (Brewer) as the construction manager for a construction management delivery. Staff said the county has set aside $2.5 million for the combined project and that the selected construction manager’s current estimate for the planned work was roughly $2.0–$2.2 million. Designers, the project team and the selected contractor will work to establish a guaranteed maximum price under the construction management contract.
Project partners explained they changed an earlier concept for a full second floor to a lateral wing expansion to reduce disruption to existing residents, avoid major elevator/stair/elevator work and better stage construction sequencing. The plan shifts sleeping rooms into a new wing and consolidates common areas; the designers said the layout is intentionally adaptable so some parts could be used for recuperative care or other near‑hospital services if community needs or funding change.
Presenters said they are working through city planning board questions and expect to present materials to the planning board shortly. The site team said they hope to break ground in July or August and finish interior work during winter months; all project obligations tied to current funding must be completed by December 31, 2026. Commissioners asked for regular updates and asked staff to bring back a finalized guaranteed maximum price once it is negotiated.
On programming, PCHC said transitional housing currently operates with several full‑time staff and provides clinical services, case management and connections to Medicaid and other community supports. PCHC said it has secured a small United Way grant to help sustain operations while it pursues additional grant funding and a stakeholder working group is being formed to design a future supportive‑housing model for the site.
Commissioners expressed support for the selection and asked for close tracking of costs and timelines so county funding can be reconciled with grant drawdowns.
