4-story building could get a 2-story haircut
November 16,2018
After a $327 million general obligation bond was turned down by local voters in 2016 Kaweah Delta District Hospital has been forced to rethink how it can build a new seismically safe hospital for less.
“It turns out there was a silver lining to our loss at the polls” says CEO Gary Herbst who adds that the formation of an active community advisory committee has helped re-imagine how it can continue to expand but not break the piggy bank.
Now Herbst says with the help of an LA-based consultant firm, RBB Architects, they may have come up with a new strategy that involves the state giving them more time to meet a 2030 deadline. The state wants the district to replace the Mineral King wing of hospital that does not meet seismic standards. The potential delay could help its replacement facilities move forward” in phases.”
“Before, we were looking at a new hospital that would have cost us over $550 million” says Herbst. But now there are indications the state may allow a delay of a few years more.Then there is the surprising idea to lop off two floors from the 1969 – built Mineral King wing since the bottom two floors would likely meet the earthquake standard.
That would result in fewer beds lost. “It would mean we build smaller towers like the Acequia wing over time as needed to replace the beds we lose “suggests Herbst. This could be done at a cost closer to $200 million, allowing the district to finance a larger portion without asking for as much bond money.
Herbst adds that this incremental strategy of building successive towers as needed was actually first launched in 1999.
Meanwhile RBB architects is just starting a 14 month comprehensive study of all the health district’s facilities.
Right now the 5th and 6th floor of the existing Acequia tower are being filled in and equipped and next door the two fast food eateries will soon meet the bulldozer to make room for 90 new parking places needed by June.
Herbst adds that over time the hospital will continue to expand Downtown perhaps even acquiring the City of Visalia property in the future as the city relocates to the Civic Center area near Burke and School Streets. The hospital has already already bought the block just west of West St from Dr Mitts and has room now to move that way.
In the meantime Herbst says the district is in discussion on the possible sale of most of its 100-acre Caldwell and Lovers Lane property they now consider surplus. Talks are with with VUSD who is interested in it as a future school site.