By Jennifer Marino
Hampton Inn and Suites
The new hotel on Nassau Street, behind the King Kullen, is mostly on schedule, according to Jules Abramson, CEO of Bramson House. Abramson is building the hotel on the site of his old factory, which moved to Freeport to satisfy space needs. The hotel, called the Hampton Inn and Suites, will be managed by Hilton.
Abramson hopes to open the hotel in May for the busy spring and summer seasons. The brick facade is going up, and Abramson hopes to have windows in soon. Once the windows are in, the construction will move fast, he said.
Honeymoon and bridal suites will be included in the design, as well as an atrium. Abramson has also met with Mayor Eugene Murray to gather historical photos of Rockville Centre, which will be enlarged and hung in the lobby.
North Park
Construction of the Rockville Centre North Park has also been held up by the weather. Snow and freezing temperatures have put "a crimp in the schedule," according to Anthony Brunetta, superintendent of Parks and Recreation. There is still work to be done on the parking fields and some "odds and ends," such as landscaping and touch-ups, Brunetta said.
Until the weather starts to cooperate, Brunetta can't come up with a precise completion date. Village sports teams have been warned that they should prepare for the possibility that the new soccer, lacrosse and baseball fields might not be ready for the spring season. It all depends on the sod, which must knit together before it can be played on.
Village Administrator Ron Wasson has inspected the work on the park and said it is going to be beautiful when it's completed. "It's really well done," he said.
In addition to the improved fields, the park will have bleachers, lighting for night games and restrooms.
Mercy Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center was hard at work in 2002, adding 2,200 square feet to the emergency department. Included are a new waiting room, a new triage area and a new and expanded Express Care for minor injuries. The hospital also added a state-of-the-art surgical suite with a family waiting room, and a Maternal Fetal Diagnostic Center.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is currently being expanded from eight to 15 beds, while the nursery and Mother/Baby unit are getting renovations and face-lifts. Labor and Delivery will be expanded and redesigned this year to improve staff and patient flow. The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit has added two beds and will add six more this year.
At Mercy, there are two major projects in the works. The Center has broken ground for the MIRACLE building, which is projected to be finished in 2004. The facility will offer advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment options. It is a joint project between Mercy and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The two-story, 22,000-square-foot, estimated $6 million building will abut the Bishop McGann Imaging Center.
A Skilled Nursing Facility is the second major project being developed at Mercy this year. Site planning is under way for the 90,000-square-foot building, which will cost $2 million. The four-story facility will house dining rooms, rehabilitation services and recreational activities. It is projected to be completed in 2005.
