Clifton-Fine construction expected to start this spring

STAR LAKE — Clifton-Fine Hospital expects to start construction in the spring on an addition to its main building that will replace a clinic that burned last year.

The hospital had wanted to build this year, but bids came in over budget by several hundred thousand dollars.

"We had to retool the project," Administrator Robert P. Kimmes said. "It's still going to be a very high quality building. We hope to start in April."

The $2.3 million addition will remain the same size and have the same number of rooms, but hospital officials changed some of the material, such as exchanging vinyl for wood trim, and dropped plans for additional parking.

"If we come back in under budget, we can add those back in," Mr. Kimmes said. "Hopefully, contractors will be a little hungrier this winter."

Contractors who might otherwise have been interested in the project were busy earlier this year finishing up work at schools before they returned to session and with jobs at Fort Drum, so the hospital didn't receive many bids, Mr. Kimmes said.

The addition will add 6,000 square feet to the hospital. The former clinic was 3,500 square feet. The construction will include a waiting area, new entrance and central registration area, and an elevator to the second floor.

After nearly a year of negotiations, the hospital settled with its insurance company for $485,000 for the burned clinic. It already had received coverage for equipment and furniture lost in the fire and support for the clinic's temporary location, Mr. Kimmes said.

The addition won't include space for Dr. Robert Loeb, a dentist from Carthage who had an office in the old clinic.

Clifton-Fine approached Carthage Area Hospital, Dr. Loeb's sponsor, about the possibility, Mr. Kimmes said.

"They would have to pay for it," he said. "They decided not to do that."

Dr. Loeb was unavailable for comment and Zachary K. Chapman, Carthage Area Hospital primary care administrator, didn't return calls for comment on whether Dr. Loeb will return to the Star Lake area.