No calls for movie theater or pub here, just their own room and their own bathroom

Residents living at Riverside Rest Home in Dover raise their hands in support of a new nursing home where residents would have their own room and their own bathroom. (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - While Strafford County Commissioners have waged a two-year battle to build a new, opulent $170 million rest home to replace Riverside Rest Home, the residents who live there have a far more modest proposal.
"I don't like the plumbing," was the delicate way Barbara Sprague of Rochester put it, alluding to the fact that there's only one bathroom for every four residents.
Debbie Canada of Dover put it more plainly.
"Everyone should have their own room and their own bathroom," she told The Rochester Voice on Thursday. "Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but it'd be nice to have your own room and your own bathroom."
In August of 2022 Strafford County Commissioners pushed for what has been referred to as a "Taj Mahal" rest home that would include a huge, two-story atrium at its entrance as well as its own theater, game room, pub and post office.
But while interviewing several residents there what became obvious was no one said they wanted a pub, a movie theater or a game room. They wanted their own room and their own bathroom.
The $170 million dollar iteration that failed to pass muster with Republicans in the Strafford Delegation also had skylights in every room, something no residents we spoke to mentioned on their wish list.
Maria Ayer, who works in personnel at the rest home, said all the residents are very aware of what is going on regarding the ongoing negotiations.
"They all know about what's going on," she said. "I would love to see it (a new nursing home) happen, and so would the residents."
In a letter to commissioners from Republicans published in The Rochester Voice a week ago it was reported that EGA Architects of Newburyport, Mass., estimated construction costs of $49 million two years ago. Officials from EGA said due to inflation it would cost $64 million today, about a third of the $170 million price tag brought forward by county commissioners.
In an email dated April 22 Strafford County Commissioners Chairman George Maglaras invited key Republicans to a private meeting or the entire delegation for a public meeting to advance a replacement to the current county nursing home.

Republicans will likely urge a public meeting with the entire county delegation, State rep Cliff Newton, R-Rochester, said today.