Plans are Underway to Demolish Community General Hospital in Fort Fairfield

The former Community General Hospital in Fort Fairfield has been slated for demolition, after officials explored numerous options to reuse the dormant building.

Fort Fairfield town officials and TAMC are now recommending taking down the original two-story structure, built in 1950, as well as a single-story section of offices, added in 1971.  The adjoining 19,400 square foot Fort Fairfield Health Center will be preserved and continue to function in its current capacity.

“Since 2008 the community has explored several options for the reuse of the 1950’s and 1970’s portions of Community General Hospital," said Fort Fairfield Town Manager Michael Bosse. "Options that have been considered are Senior Citizen housing, hotel rooms, apartments, historical facilities and medical offices. Potential developers were asked to consider the options and all were deemed cost prohibitive and not to be viable."

At the April 22 Fort Fairfield Town Council meeting, TAMC officials updated community leaders on the latest developments with the building.  Over the past few weeks, crews have been on-site removing asbestos from the old CGH building.   Once the abatement process is complete, TAMC plans to hire an area contractor to begin demolition of the two sections. A new end wall would be constructed where the Health Center adjoins the original building.  Altogether, TAMC plans to invest $500,000 with local contractors to complete the work.  Final approval to move forward with the plan will go before the TAMC Board of Trustees at their May 8 meeting.

TAMC President and CEO Sylvia Getman said, "It has just become too cost prohibitive to heat and maintain a 50,000 square foot building when we use only a portion of it.”

"Our intent has always been to keep the Fort Fairfield Health Center in the community, " Gettman said.  "It is an important and treasured resource for townspeople, and one that residents rely heavily on to access primary healthcare and other services."

The former Community General Hospital sits on a 2.5 acre site with frontage on Route 161 and Green and Brown Streets in Fort Fairfield.  TAMC intends to create new “green space” in the area for community members and patients visiting the Fort Fairfield Health Center to enjoy.  As a commemorative, the original 1950 cornerstone will be preserved for the town.