PINEY FLATS, Tenn. – A thin line of trees and about 500 feet of grass separate Sharon Bailey’s bedroom window from the site of a proposed urgent-care facility Wellmont Health System plans to build in this south Sullivan County community.
"I’m thinking I’d rather see that than condos," said Bailey, who lives in a house at the end of a cul-de-sac in the Arbor Hills subdivision. "You never know what’s going to happen."
Bailey’s house borders the southeastern edge of a 26.5-acre tract of land Wellmont purchased for $1.9 million in February 2006. The property is located at U.S. Highway 11E and Taylor Road, about a half-mile north of the Rocky Mount Museum.
On Tuesday, company officials announced plans to build a $4 million urgent care facility on 4 acres of the site. The complex will feature space for three doctor’s offices, a pharmacy, an in-house lab and a helipad.
The remaining 22.5 acres are listed for sale with Green Commercial Realty of Johnson City. Wellmont is asking $2.2 million for the property, which is zoned as a planned business district.
"It could be worse," said Pauline Oliver, who lives across 11E from the facility’s site with her husband Jim. "It could be a liquor store or something like that."
The Olivers have lived in their home for the past 50 years and slowly seen their Piney Flats community develop into a mixture of residential and commercial uses. They’ve wondered what Wellmont would do with the property and welcomed its plans to build an urgent-care facility.
"If you’ve ever been to the emergency room at [the Johnson City] Medical Center you know they need a new one," Oliver said, adding she hopes Wellmont’s planned facility will give the Medical Center, which is operated by Mountain States Health Alliance, some needed competition.
Bailey was also wondering what Wellmont would do with its property. She knew the company owned it when she purchased her house in May 2006.
"Out of my choices of what that’s going to be, [a medical facility is] cool," Bailey said. "My daughter’s in nursing at Tennessee Tech. Now, maybe she can walk to work."
gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518
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