Evergreen Health and its affiliate Community Access Services (CAS) have purchased four real estate parcels on the city’s East Side – 1096, 1098, and 1102 Kensington Avenues, along with contiguous 3074 Bailey Avenue. This acquisition – purchased by Evergreen Health Foundation, an affiliate of Evergreen Health from J-P Group, LLC for $870,000 – will allow Evergreen and CAS to construct a building that would provide for expanded healthcare services on the city’s East Side.
To date, Evergreen has had centralized services around the lower West Side, although the organization and CAS have had a presence at 3297 Bailey Avenue since 2018. Once the new building is opened, Evergreen and CAS will vacate that building in order to better amplify their work within the new corner lot hub.
Art Hall of Hallmark Planning & Development (a minority-owned planning consultant firm) will take the lead on the community engagement aspect of the project. Details on the process are still being developed.
This new development is in line with CAS’s role to address HIV and other chronic conditions that affect urban communities, including communities of color. The construction of the new building will ensure that Evergreen and CAS have the resources that they need to better serve the community.
“Since we opened our doors 40 years ago, our mission has been to provide quality care to those who are underserved and undervalued by the healthcare system,” said Ray Ganoe, president & CEO, Evergreen Health. “We’re only able to provide this comprehensive care because of community partnerships like the one we formed with Community Access Services years ago. Together, we have and will continue to provide that unconditional care that the community deserves at our new site which will build upon our mission to provide inclusive, compassionate, respectful and judgment-free care”
“This is an exciting day for Community Access Services and everyone in the community who comes through our doors looking for access to quality healthcare,” said Kim Brown, executive director, Community Access Services. “We are at the beginning stages of this development project, but we are looking forward to talking more with the community about the services needed at our expanded location.”
Next up, Evergreen, CAS, and Hallmark Development will host community meetings, to better engage the community as it develops its plans. Evergreen intends to launch a capital fundraising campaign in the near future.
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