Dominican to demolish rehab center, build medical office
SANTA CRUZ >> Dignity Health plans to demolish the three-story Dominican Rehabilitation Services building at 610 Frederick St. and replace it with a modern two-story medical complex.
City Manager Martin Bernal, in his weekly newsletter, reported a design permit has been submitted for a new 60,000-square-foot building. The existing building is 58,000 square feet.
Dignity Health did not release any information on what the new medical complex will house, but the hospital’s rehabilitation services will be moving to Madrone Street.
Dignity Health Dominican Hospital spokeswoman Claire Henry said, “We have no comment on this project at this time.”
The property is T-shaped.
The driveway into the rehab complex is flanked by single-story medical offices, which are independently owned and not a part of the Dignity project.
Boulder Associates Architects, a 34-year-old firm with a specialty in health care and senior living design and an office in Sacramento, produced the design submitted to the city.
The existing building opened as Community Hospital in 1959, a facility built by Harald Sundean, who ran it until selling it to American Medical International in 1978. Dominican purchased the hospital in 1990 and converted it to rehab services, eventually filling the building with 280 employees.
The zoning of the property is such that medical offices are permitted and a design permit for medical office can be approved by staff without a public hearing.
With the state enacting more stringent seismic safety requirements, Dominican opted in 2013 to close the skilled nursing unit, which was housed at the rehabilitation center, and move some programs to different locations.
In January, Kindred Rehabilitation Services of Louisville, Kentucky, took over administration of Dominican’s outpatient therapy services.
Six months later, Dignity Dominican announced plans to move the outpatient therapy services to 111 Madrone St., a vacated Sports Authority store, after undertaking $1 million in renovations.
The timeline for the new medical office construction has not been released.
John Swift, a planning consultant retained by Dominican for the project, did not return calls seeking comment,
One of the rehab center’s neighbors is Lifespan, a locally owned agency that supplies registered nurses and aides for people who need care at home.
“We are really excited about this,” said Ashley Min, Lifespan’s operations director, noting Lifespan already has a relationship with Dominican, using the rehab center classrooms for training. “It definitely will bring the eye’s view to our building.”
Her curiosity was piqued when she saw surveyors taking measurements.
She asked Crystal Olson, manager of the Personal Enrichment Program, which offers 500 classes a year, and learned the new building will be a wellness center with an indoor pool.
“It will be a benefit to the neighborhood,” said Min, who was told the project will happen within in the next couple years.
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 17, 2017 7:41pm
Author: Jondi Gumz
Read More: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/20170917/dominican-to-demolish-rehab-center-build-medical-office
