June 17,2018-
Several decades ago the leaders of Kaweah Delta hospital decided to stay in Downtown Visalia instead of building a new campus on the outskirts of town. With demand growing as it is, a myriad of seismic regulations to meet and more services launched “it should come as no surprise” says its CEO Gary Herbst, “ we will need to keep buying more properties around us as we move to the west.”
A major uncertainty remains whether the hospital can use their 1969-built Mineral King complex as a hospital in the future.To stay Downtown they must plan for contingencies.
This month the hospital is adding another block to their urban inventory just to the west of their current footprint to “make room for more parking and possibly our next medical tower” in the future says Herbst.
The CEO says the district hospital has come to an agreement with Dr Tom Mitts over his block-long, three property complex the includes Dr Mitt’s large medical building, the Town and Center Pharmacy building and a third vacant medical building, all near West and Acequia. Herbst says the pharmacy will continue to operate for now. Two of the three properties have already closed escrow.
The move comes only a few months after the hospital announced plans to clear the block just west of the Acequia tower that has two restaurants, Checkers Hamburgers and Docs Drive-Inn. Doc’s is relocating soon to their new home on Willis and Main, where the Coke mural is.
“For now we are really in need of more parking” says Herbst adding they are also likely to lease the vacant land at Noble and Locust that used to house the Shell gas station, to be put in service for hospital parking right across 198 from the hospital.
Herbst also confirms they looked at leasing space from the Masonic Temple across Locust but the Temple’s leaders decided not to move forward. Several other properties are being considered as well.
Meanwhile City looks east
Asked if the hospital had interest in purchasing Visalia City Hall, Herbst said he now has regular meetings with Visalia City Manager Randy Groom who confirmed to Herbst the city plans to relocate to the Ben Maddox area next year. The city owns 4 shell buildings next to Sonic Drive-In. As a result,Groom said the city would be interested in selling their current City Hall complex at Johnson and Acequia.
Before the hospital makes any of these key property decisions Herbst says they huddle with their advisory committee from the community who are tasked with helping the district “ look at the hospital of the future.”
“We are not making these decisions in a vacuum ” adds Herbst “getting all the community input we can before we make a move.”
Dr. Tom Mitts says he has been working with Kaweah Delta for years on this possible acquisition and adds they “are easy to work with.” Mitts says he is not sure how fast he will vacate his 14,000 sf office that also has underground parking.Herbst says it possible they will use this building for admin purposes.
Dr Mitts says “ I plan to be around for while” working not only at his practice but on a technology investment involving skin treatment.