Friends of the Nathaniel Witherell Secure $4.49 Million for Project Renew
David Ormsby, Chairman of the Friends of Nathaniel Witherell, Inc., announced yesterday that the Friends has helped obtain a $4.49 million State of Connecticut historic income tax credit to offset the construction costs of Project Renew, the project to modernize and refurbish The Nathaniel Witherell, the highly regarded, short-term rehabilitation and long-term nursing care center owned by the Town of Greenwich.
“This brings the total to over $9 million that the Friends has raised from generous private citizens, foundations, and public sources to date,” Mr. Ormsby reported. “By facilitating this historic tax credit, we are helping to insure that Nathaniel Witherell can continue its 112-year tradition of serving our community’s needs and assisting our Town’s most vulnerable elderly residents.”
Pictured at the check presentation are: (seated left to right) Chris Thurlow, former Nathaniel Witherell and Friends of Nathaneil Witherell board member; Louise Puschel, Nathaniel Witherell and Friends of Nathaniel Witherell board member; Bruce Dixon, Friends board member; Tracey Alston, community relations specialist at Eversource Energy; Debby Lash, Friends board member;and Jack Moffly, Friends board member; (standing left to right) David Ayres, former Nathaniel Witherell board member; David Ormsby, Chairman of the Nathaniel Witherell and Friends of Nathaniel Witherell; Ken Bowes, Vice President of Distribution at Eversource; Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei; Thomas Dorsey, Manager of Government Affairs at Eversource; Lloyd Bankson III, Witherell board member; H. Andrew Fox, Co-Chair, Town of Greenwich Building Committee for Project Renew; and Allen Brown, Nathaniel Witherell’s Executive Director.
Project Renew has dramatically improved the infrastructure and environment at Witherell by increasing the number of private rooms from 26 to 64, eliminating 10 four-bedded rooms, and remodeling and redecorating 86 resident rooms. Public space has been similarly enhanced, including a 4,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Center, new family reception areas, the modernization of three existing elevators and adding a fourth elevator, a new emergency generator, and other facility upgrades. Total construction costs are $27 million, with the State of Connecticut providing up to $12 million over a 20-year period.
Greenwich First Selectman Peter J. Tesei speaks at the check presentation.
The Friends began the process of applying for the historic income tax credit in 2009, completing the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Certification application on behalf of Witherell to list the facility and its 20-acre campus on the National Register of Historic Places. The Friends retained Nils Kerschus, a prominent architectural historian, to research the architectural design and development of the 1933 Administration building, which constitutes the centerpiece of the Nathaniel Witherell campus. The Friends’ submitted materials were critical in establishing Nathaniel Witherell’s eligibility for historic preservation tax incentives authorized by the State of Connecticut.
Ken Bowes, Vice President of Distribution for Eversource Energy, speaks at the check presentation.
On June 9, 2010, Greenwich was notified that the Nathaniel Witherell Historic District was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service. Subsequent applications prepared by the Friends to the State of Connecticut under its Historic Preservation Program resulted in the award of a State income tax credit in the amount of $4,490,918. The credit is transferable and, since the Town of Greenwich pays no State income tax, the credit was sold to Eversource Energy (formerly Connecticut Light & Power Co.), which generously agreed to pay the Town of Greenwich the full principal amount of the credit.
About The Nathaniel Witherell
The Nathaniel Witherell is a short-term rehab and skilled nursing center located on 24 beautiful acres just two miles from downtown Greenwich. Witherell is committed to person-centered care provided by a compassionate and experienced staff. Rehab is available seven days a week. The nonprofit is owned and operated by the Town of Greenwich and has been serving the community for 112 years.
Witherell reflects the community’s collective commitment to provide for the town’s elderly when home care is no longer an option. The vast majority of residents have lived their entire lives in Greenwich and supported the community in which we live. Witherell was recently recognized as “one of the best nursing homes in Connecticut” by U.S. News & World Report. For each year since the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services adopted its rating system in 2008, Witherell has enjoyed the Center’s coveted 5-star rating, a distinction granted to only 19% of the nursing homes in the United States.
To learn more about Witherell, the public may call Allen Brown, Executive Director, at (203) 618-4323, Scott Neff, Development Director, at (203) 618-4227, or visit us online at www.nathanielwitherell.org.
