Named for General Lewis “Chesty” Puller, the 120-bed Puller Veterans Care Center project is moving forward in the Vint Hill area of Fauquier County.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) Deputy Commissioner Steven Combs and members of the community gathered at City Hall in Manassas for an informational meeting and update on the project last week.
According to a VDVS presentation, veterans care centers are meant to provide long-term care, Alzheimer’s treatment and care, and short-term rehab to all veterans living in Virginia.
There are existing veterans care centers in Richmond, which has 200 beds, and Roanoke, which has 240 beds, according to the presentation.
Two new veterans care centers were approved by the Virginia General Assembly to be built – each with 128 beds – in Virginia Beach, and the one at Vint Hill. The goal is to break ground on both centers later this year with a slated opening for late 2019, according to Combs.
In order to utilize services from the upcoming center, veterans and service members need to have had an honorable discharged from the United States military, meet Virginia residency requirements or be serving active duty in Virginia, and meet medical requirements for care.
The Puller Veterans Care Center will be built on land donated by the Vint Hill Economic Development Authority, on the site of the former Vint Hills Farm Station – a once United States Army and National Security Agency facility – stated a release.
“The new veterans care center will be a state-of-the-art facility providing skilled nursing care, Alzheimers/dementia care, and short term rehabilitative care. The Northern Virginia region is home to over 200,000 veterans, the second largest concentration in the Commonwealth, and we owe it to them, and their families, to build this new facility,” stated McAuliffe in a release.
Combs showed meeting attendees photos of the projected look of the center, as well as the layout plans for the facility.
The veterans care center will include handicap accessible private rooms with bathrooms, a barber/beauty shop, a pharmacy, activity rooms, lounges, and a library.
The environmental assessment has been completed for the project, and VDVS is seeking community comments before moving forward with the project.
