flagstaff to see construction of long-awaited veterans home

Plans are rapidly moving forward, after years of delays and discussion, for the construction of a new veterans home on the northeast side of Flagstaff.

The project is slated to go up on an eight-acre site off of the McMillan Mesa near the Coconino High School.

Funding for the new facility, which will house 60 beds, incudes $10 million that was approved by the State of Arizona some three years ago.

Last spring the federal Department of Veteran Affairs announced it was also kicking in $20 million to get the facility built.

The project has long been pushed by Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans who was instrumental in getting the City of Flagstaff to set aside the McMillan Mesa land needed for the facility.

The new residential home will measure around 80,000 square feet and will include lobby space, a laundry room, gift shop, meditation room, and barber and beauty shop.

Each resident room will be private and fully furnished.

As planned, construction on the Flagstaff facility is expected to launch early this summer, with a completion date of early 2020.

The announcement of a summer construction schedule for the Flagstaff project comes as work on a new Veterans Affairs Medical Center outpatient clinic has already started in Phoenix.

By Garry Boulard

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