Pleasant Hill Ramblings
Marcka Auction Services
Pleasant Hill Ramblings
Jean Clark, Chronicle contributor
Ten homes in Uplands Village, Pleasant Hill were auctioned off in 45 minutes at the October 9 Auction by Marcka Auction Services. That is not to say that there had not been months of preparation, advertising, sprucing up, open houses, flyers, and communication between Uplands Marketing and Marcka. PepéPerron, President of the Uplands Board welcomed all to the Auction. Executive Director Woodard explained the requirements that successful bidders must comply with. For example, there would be 60 days to closing with full payment and six months to complete the renovation supplying plans for approval to the Uplands Architectural Review Committee after 30 days. The finished property must be up to code. It can then be listed with Uplands Marketing. The initial investor does not have to pay an Uplands Membership Fee, but the home buyer has to qualify to live in Uplands Village and pay membership and maintenance fees. The winning bids ranged from $12,000 to $43,000 and all exceeded the minimum bids set.
Six of the ten homes had been scheduled for demolition, which in itself is costly. The others needed a great deal of renovation to bring them up to standards. Woodard arranged for this unique type of auction as a way of breathing new birth and vitality into the Village. Plans are also underway for an Aquatic Therapy Center and the complete redesigning of the original Wharton Nursing Home on Lake Rd. Groundbreaking for the Aquatic Center took place last May during a downpour, which gave everyone participating a taste of its watery future. The Aquatic Center will house a saltwater lap pool and a warmer therapy pool as well as a hot tub. Salt water is much gentler on the skin and provides more buoyancy.
A complete redesign of the original Wharton Nursing Home has been undertaken by the Upland Design Group (no connection with Uplands Village). Funds are being provided by USDA Rural Development. It will become the Uplands Wellness Center with 31 beds for skilled nursing and a rehabilitation therapy center with an occupational therapy kitchen and bath designed to help stroke, heart attack and surgery patients re-learn skills necessary for their highest level of independence. In addition, there will be room for a café in the building featuring fresh foods that will be available for patients, their guests, and the local community. The completion of this will allow Uplands to open a 31-bed residential memory care unit in Wharton Homes. Although the groundbreaking for the Aquatic Center was held in May, 2014 and the original Wharton has been gutted with all asbestos and hazardous materials removed, the final plans and paperwork have just been approved. Serious construction will begin in January of 2015 with expectation that the Aquatic Center will be ready by spring.
Dr. May Cravath Wharton, the founder of Uplands, was heard to say that “a dream has no dimensions” whenever another health facility was planned. Starting small with the opening of a two-bed health facility, Sanex, in 1921 through a campus of two hospitals and a nursing home in Pleasant Hill, until the Cumberland Medical Center was established in Crossville in 1950, she always dreamed big. That tradition continues here in Pleasant Hill with the major expansion of Uplands Village in the four new Eden Concept homes, Medicare capability, and this soon-to-be Uplands Wellness Center. At the May dedication, the Litany of Dedication proclaimed, “Today we remember with gratitude the vision of Dr. May Wharton and the healing ministry she began. We remember all who did and do continue her labor of love.”