Douglas County's efforts to create a midtown health care campus are coming together.
County officials anticipate that renovations to the former Goodwill Industries facility near 41st and Pacific Streets will be completed by late July. About 155 county employees will relocate to the building, including about 100 from the Health Department.
The County Health Department, juvenile assessment, general assistance and veterans services departments and other offices will occupy about 50,000 square feet on two levels of the renovated facility.
So far the County Board hasn't discussed naming the facility, said board member Clare Duda.
“It is on the bus line, that is a big benefit,” said Dr. Adi Pour, Douglas County Health Department director. “It is an easier place (to find) than going downtown.”
The main level will house the general assistance office and Health Department, which includes administration, epidemiology, immunizations, and STD and HIV testing. The Health Department will have a clinic, patient examination rooms, nurse stations, conference rooms and classrooms.
Occupying the lower level will be juvenile assessment, veterans assistance and other Health Department divisions, including permits, sanitation control, WIC, health promotions, child lead and emergency preparedness.
Renovation is about halfway finished. Lund-Ross Constructors of Omaha is the general contractor, and the Omaha office of RDG Planning & Design is the architect.
The county installed geothermal heating and cooling and “green” lighting and other components to make the building environmentally friendly and to attain an Energy Star rating from the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2009 the County Board spent $2.5 million to acquire the property. Renovation and other expenses are expected to increase the total cost to approximately $7 million.
“We're doing something that makes a lot of sense,” said Jerry Leahy, the county public properties director.
The City-County Building at 1819 Farnam St. will continue to house administration, criminal justice, register of deeds, clerk and treasurer. The Health Department's departure from the building frees space so the County Assessor's Office can move back downtown from leased space in the Miracle Hills area.
Also gaining a permanent home in the Goodwill building will be the juvenile assessment program, which operated from rented space at the Center Mall. In the long run, terminating two lease agreements will save the county nearly $200,000 a year.
“We're pretty excited about it,” said the board's chairwoman, Mary Ann Borgeson. “In terms of building a health and juvenile campus, we will see benefits to coordinating services better.”
In addition, relocating the general assistance office and health clinics from the Douglas County Health Center will free more space for services such as outpatient psychiatric care, officials said. The health center is in the former Douglas County Hospital, which is adjacent to the Goodwill Industries Building.
It wasn't rocket science, said County Board member Chris Rodgers.
“We had our eye on it (the Goodwill property) and it was in our interest to get that land. Long term, it helps us,” Rodgers said.
County-owned property in the 42nd Street area also includes the youth detention center and two buildings used by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Rodgers said the purchase of the Goodwill building provides the county with future options.
“I'm excited about the opportunities. It helps relieve some space pressures, and space has been an issue for a while,” he said.
Longtime board member Duda said the county wants to create more campus-type settings for specialized services. Corrections and the courthouse are downtown, and county law enforcement is at 156th Street and West Maple Road.
“Clearly, we pick up some big efficiencies,” Duda said.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1134, cate.folsom@owh.com
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