The Marana Health Center has bought 30 acres to build an 80,000-square-foot facility across the street from the Marana Municipal Complex.
The clinic will be built on the west side of North Marana Main Street, just south of the Northwest Fire/Rescue District station and across the traffic circle from Marana's town hall, municipal court and main police station.
The center purchased the land from Southwest Value Partners for $3.8 million. It plans to build a $20 million facility to house its main health care clinic as well as administration offices.
"It's an ideal site in that it's centrally located, and all of the infrastructure is in place," said Marana Health Center CEO Clarence Vatne. "It's easily accessible for all of the population."
Marana Health Center operates 11 clinics throughout Southern Arizona. Its current headquarters are at 13644 N. Sandario Road. That 18,000-square foot building can no longer accommodate the needs of its patients, said Jerry Farnsworth, director of development.
"It's much too small," Farnsworth said. "We've increased our patient volume dramatically over the last five years."
The 11 clinics saw about 30,000 patients during the last fiscal year, Farnsworth said, compared to 7,500 five years ago.
In addition to expanded dental, pharmacy, radiology and laboratory services, Farnsworth said, the complex will include retail space that could become home to a cafeteria, a commercial pharmacy and a coffee shop.
Choosing a site in Marana's proposed town center fits both the goals of the health center and the town, officials say.
"We were looking for something that would make it a much more active area," said Mike Reuwsaat, Marana town manager. "From the town's perspective, it would work in that it would augment the government of the area."
Farnsworth said the town has been very encouraging of the Marana Health Center moving, as it falls in line with the town's future plans.
"In his state of the town address, Mayor (Ed) Honea cited as one of his three foremost goals the creation of a true town center," Farnsworth said.
Construction of the health center is expected to begin by mid-2008, with a planned completion date of late 2009.
