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March 22, 2013 Was closing the Rochester State Hospital a good idea?

Three decades ago the Rochester State Hospital closed its doors to patients living with mental illness, aspart of an effort to reintegrate patients into the community. Backers of the move thought closing the hospital would encourage services to help patients live independently, improve their quality of life and save money.

March 11, 2013 Former mental hospital, historic buildings' fate undecided

As their fate hangs in the balance, the historic buildings still standing at the former Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital will be the subject of a presentation to the Mount Tabor Historical Society on Thursday. Preserve Greystone, a nonprofit group, will lead the discussion on whether to refurbish or demolish the structures at 7 p.m. at The Bethel, in the Trinity Park section of Mount Tabor. Meanwhile, the draft of a long-awaited feasibility study on Greystone is in the hands of officials in the state Treasury Department, and could soon be released to the public.

March 15, 2013 Local photographer documents Fulton State Hospital ahead of bond issue

While Fulton State Hospital fights to pass a bond issue to construct new buildings for the aging mental health facility, Craig Chapman is working to preserve it. Chapman doesn’t wish to stop the bulldozers that hospital administrators hope will soon bring down older, unusable structures and pave the way for a new hospital, however. He wants to immortalize the architectural history with his camera.

February 26, 2013 Study to determine fate of Taunton State Hospital on track for completion by end of year

A study on the state’s mental health system is on track to be completed by the end of the year, with initial results about the situation in southeastern Massachusetts to be released in mid-March and a preliminary statewide report due in late November.

February 24, 2013 Proposal to build resort at former Northern State Hospital draws support

A proposal to build a destination resort on the grounds of the former Northern State Hospital gained support this month, after the Port of Skagit Board of Commissioners and the Skagit County Commissioners wrote letters agreeing to explore land-use changes necessary for the plan. In a letter dated Feb. 12, the port commissioners cited job creation, a boost for Sedro-Woolley’s and the county’s tax base and “spin­off” businesses as reasons to get behind the project.