The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is in the process of acquiring the closed Norman (Okla.) Specialty Hospital for nearly $3.3 million, with plans of turning the building into a new VA hospital, The Norman Transcript reported Jan. 24.
In addition to the acquisition price, the VA approved $10 million for the modifications of the facility. The VA has been interested in acquiring the hospital that has been empty since 2014 for over a year.
The new hospital will have 52 beds — 26 for skilled nursing and 26 for substance use treatment.
"We will be redesigning the facility to meet both the inpatient substance abuse and skilled nursing facility building requirements," Carmen Daugherty, supervisory public affairs officer of the VA Health Care System in Oklahoma City, told the Transcript. "We will also be updating the infrastructure, like a new roof, plumbing and heat and air conditioning units."