NSHC plans to build new housing units adjacent to hospital
Norton Sound Health Corporation is laying the groundwork to build up to eight new 20-plex apartment buildings west of its hospital in Nome.
Last month, NSHC submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for an environmental permit needed to build the new housing development off Greg Kruschek Ave.
The plan included in that application shows eight new 20-plex units and a storage facility on the 17.75acre property west of the hospital. These new buildings would be located west and north of the NSHC 20-plex that already exists.
“NSHC’s workforce has grown in both the villages and Nome,” Angie Gorn, CEO of NSHC, said in a statement to the Nugget. “There is a lack of housing in the region and NSHC has a long-term capital plan to develop housing in the villages and Nome for its workforce.”
Gorn added that site and foundation work is scheduled to take place in summer 2024 for the hospital campus in Nome.
“The volume of housing needed is still being assessed,” she said.
In a board meeting in September, Matt Emrick, director of engineering and capital projects at NSHC, had said that the corporation could put as many as eight new housing units in the property it purchased west of the hospital.
“So far we’ve requested and received $10 million from the board to perform site and utility work for four 20-plex units,” Emrick said at the time.
That $10 million was approved in the corporation’s fiscal year 2024 budget. NSHC Public Relations Manager Reba Lean said there won’t be an updated funding request from the board until this fall for the fiscal year 2025 capital budget.
NSHC needs a permit from the Corps because the much of the property is considered a wetland and contains streams that are tributaries of Dry Creek.
Before it can build the pads needed for these new buildings, the corporation must authorize the discharge of about 72,607 cubic yards of fill into 8.8 acres of that property.
According to the permit application, two access roads connecting the southern and northern fill pads would each have two 36-inch diameter culverts. Another 24-inch culvert would be put in the driveway connecting the property to Greg Kruschek Ave.
The application also includes
some reasoning behind this proposed construction work:
“Since 2013, the number of employees working at NSHC has grown by 44 percent, and recruitment challenges have resulted in hiring more intermittent employees who require housing during their rotation. These employees use a large portion of currently available housing and thereby have contributed to the significant housing shortage in Nome and the surrounding area, which impedes hiring a permanent local workforce. The proposed project would likely ease the housing shortage for both the hospital and the community.”
The Corps is accepting comments from the public regarding this plan until Feb. 22.
NSHC’s application can be viewed via the public notice (POA2023-00519 Dry Creek PN) posted to the Corps’Alaska District website at https://www.poa.usace.army.mil/
Written comments can be addressed to: FAIRBANKS FIELD OFFICE Regulatory Division (1145) CEPOA-RD, 1046 Marks Road, Fort Wainwright, Alaska 99703.
Those who would like to submit comments by phone or email can contact Greg Mazer at (907) 3479059, toll free from within Alaska at (800) 478-2712, or at Gregory.J.Mazer@usace.army.mil.