PORT ANGELES — A building with many former faces will acquire a new role as a medical clinic with an expected opening date of this time next year.
A warranty deed for the 11,000-square foot Edna’s Place special-events venue at 1026 East First St. was transferred Monday from owner Edna Petersen to the North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN), according to the nonprofit’s CEO.
“It’s a done deal,” Dr. Mike Maxwell said last week.
NOHN which, as a Federally Qualified Health Center offers medical, dental and behavioral health care on a sliding scale, will renovate the former sports bar to house up to five medical practitioners and 20-25 support staff. Maxwell said pharmacy services are part of the plan.
“We’re really happy,” he said.
“We’re at the mercy of the supply chain and the pandemic, but we are really hoping to be in there and have this completed by December 2022, or sooner if we can, but we are being realistic.”
The building, constructed in 1945 and listed for $1.4 million by Port Angeles Realty, sold for $1.2 million, he said.
Maxwell said Friday that 80 percent of the purchase price was financed through Kitsap Bank and the remainder covered by NOHN reserves.
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which oversees NOHN and programs for geographically isolated and economically or medically vulnerable communities, guaranteed 80 percent of the Kitsap Bank loan, Maxwell said in a text message.
That paved the way for more favorable loan terms, he said.
NOHN will spend an additional approximately $1.5 million in grants and reserves for renovations.
Capital grants from the HRSA will cover a good portion of those costs.
“We don’t plan any fundraising at this point,” Maxwell said.
He said NOHN is working on the project with Vanir Construction Management Inc. engineering company, a partner in building the Field Arts & Events Hall. The renovation design is being finalized, Maxwell added.
Three medical practitioners are on track to be hired next year, with additional hiring of support staff over the next couple of years, he said.
Petersen, a former Port Angeles City Council member and a former real estate broker, said she is happy the transaction went through. Jim Haguewood was the real estate broker for the sale.
“I’m thrilled with what they are going to do with that building,” Petersen said.
Klallam Counseling, Sea Ridge Realty and an antique store have occupied the site over more than seven decades. Other tenants included Apria Healthcare medical supply company and, most recently, Fanaticus Sports Grill, which closed in October 2017.
Petersen said she has spent $3,000 a month keeping it in saleable shape.
“I’ve kept the building in good repair all the time when it’s been empty and through COVID, and I’m basically thrilled they are gong to make it a wonderful healthcare facility in my community,” she said.
NOHN’s current payroll covers 130 employees, generating $10.5 million and wages annually, Maxwell said in an earlier interview. NOHN’s additional workforce will add $1.5 million to $2 million to that total, he said.
NOHN was founded as the private-practice Family Medicine of Port Angeles, in 1979, moving into the former city of Port Angeles electric operations building at 240 W. Front St. in 2009. It changed in 2015 to a Federal Community Health Center, becoming a 501(c)(3) organization. It is run by a community board.
NOHN added a second clinic at 933 E. First St. in 2018.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.