NYS Dormitory Authority readies for Orange County project

The start of work on the proposed Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center Replacement Project in the Orange County community of New Hampton could come this spring now that The Dormitory Authority of New York State (DASNY), in its role as lead agency, has determined that the project will not have a significant adverse environmental impacts.

DASNY is working with the New York State Office of Mental Health on the plans for the new residential facility that would offer inpatient care. It’s planned to encompass approximately 340,000 square feet and would be constructed on a mostly undeveloped approximately 39-acre part of the existing Forensic Psychiatric Center’s 67-acre main campus. The land would be subdivided and the new structure would be built adjacent to the existing facility at 2834 New York State Route 17M in New Hampton, a hamlet in the Town of Wawayanda.

It has been estimated by some construction industry sources that that the project could cost in excess of $300 million, but DASNY itself has not put a price tag on the project. DASNY last month received bids for initial site work, which it described as including hazardous material abatement, the demolition and disposal of eight existing structures, and related utility infrastructure. It said site demolition work includes the removal of trees, site cut and fill, and clearing of existing utilities. It also said that site infrastructure work includes active utility relocations, installation of a stormwater basin, and installation of water lines for use during construction.

Six bids were received for the initial site work. The highest was more than $8.7 million and the lowest bid was $5,869,950 from OCS Industries, Inc., a Hudson Valley contractor.

The new facility would accommodate approximately 272 active patient beds with an additional 28 “swing” beds available when needed for a total of 300 beds, a 15 bed net increase over the existing facility. The proposed project would also include the construction of new municipal water and sewer connections to the City of Middletown’s existing infrastructure along Route 17M.

The exiting facility has a capacity of 285 beds and a total population of approximately 850 patients and staff members. The existing buildings are acknowledged by the state as being severely aged and having deteriorated infrastructure including inadequate air conditioning units and inefficient floor plan configurations.

DASNY made a number of specific determinations in its environmental review. It said there would be no substantial adverse change in existing air quality, ground or surface water quality or quantity, and traffic or noise levels. It also found there would be no substantial increase in solid waste production; and no substantial increase in potential for erosion, flooding, leaching or drainage problems.