Confirmed: Old Tossed & Countrywide Spaces to Become Kaiser Clinic
Decatur Metro | August 31, 2009 | 9:29 amRus writes in…
Yesterday it was officially announced at The Artisan homeowners meeting (by HOA president Nan Pratt) that the Tossed/Countrywide space is going to soon be a Kaiser Permanente clinic.
We had heard rumors of this a couple months back, but had yet to receive confirmation.
We will all have our personal reactions about what SHOULD have gone there, but I don’t think anyone will argue that it’s reassuring to see some of the most expensive commercial spaces in the city still finding tenants.
UPDATE: Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne gives a few more details in the comments section…
The new office will include exam and procedure rooms, physician offices, a laboratory and a pharmacy. It will initially offer internal medicine and pediatrics for Kaiser Permanente members and additional specialties may be added. Kaiser Permanente will invest about $1.5 million in construction, furniture, equipment and IT in the property and expect to open the center in downtown Decatur in the fourth quarter of 2009.
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Does anyone know what type of services this KP clinic will offer?
The new office will include exam and procedure rooms, physician offices, a laboratory and a pharmacy. It will initially offer internal medicine and pediatrics for Kaiser Permanente members and additional specialties may be added. Kaiser Permanente will invest about $1.5 million in construction, furniture, equipment and IT in the property and expect to open the center in downtown Decatur in the fourth quarter of 2009.
I’m sure that, being the organization that they are, KP has done the studies, but it seems like an odd location for such a comprehensive facility, especially since they have a large freestanding facility at Northlake.
As a KP member, this is excellent news! I am now anxious to hear which pediatricians will be transferring to the Decatur office.
I am also very excited to have a KP pharmacy so close!
Folks like KP are the only ones that can take the 50.00 dollar a square foot hit space in the floor of the Artisan charges. Ever wonder why your health insurance is so expensive?
I wonder how Pambili stays there? As far as I can see only a national chain can afford the rents.
This of course determines what kind of businesses can go in there shaping the face of Decatur retail space. Put this kind of mixed use in downtown and you won’t get a lot of trendy shops and restaurants no matter what the developer says.
I am a KP member. When I go to their facility in midtown (which is often) I usually go out for lunch at Wolfgang Puck’s place next door and sometimes do my grocery shopping at the Kroger next door. I think mixed use is a key to continued vitality in downtown Decatur.
I agree. When I visit KP facilities, I almost always grab lunch or a coffee or do some other type of shopping nearby. Although it isn’t a cutesy new restaurant or salon or boutique, it will definitely be a boost to attract and retain these type of businesses.
I spy a Phish fan!
busted!
I think we’re pretty good on trendy restaurants and shops. I was going to write earlier that though Kaiser might not be the most exciting business to be added to downtown, I think it’s one of the most interesting additions since the Art Institute and DeVry.
Where our shops and restaurants have to do a certain amount of competing with each other for the same disposable dollar, Kaiser brings in a whole new clientele to downtown. Though it’s not as exciting as looking at the menu of the Pig, I bet surrounding local businesses and the city are more excited about Kaiser than they were about Tossed.
The rent is certainly not $50 a square foot and never has been. While retail and restaurants are wonderful, our goal is to bring a healthy mix of retail, restaurant and service businesses downtown so that we can provide as many of the basic needs as possible in addition to great dining and unque shopping opportunities.
This is great news. The presence of strong, sustainable tenants like this help to prevent vacancies, which increases the property values overall, and are a boon to surrounding service industry businesses like restaurants, etc.
There it is again…
“Sustainable”
But this time attached to a Health Care provider
One other point for “mixed use”, especially in downtown Decatur, but also at the KP midtown location, is that I can (and so can you) use public transit to get there. I can’t get to Northlake by MARTA (well it takes an hour and a half followed by a 30 minute walk). At their midtown location I can take MARTA. So even in ATL, public transit, even with its stunted pattern of service, is viable for many people, and this will help it remain so.
I am very excited that Kaiser is coming- they are my provider and it will be wonderful to be able to walk to the doctor and pharmacy. Might have to stop at some stores and shop on my way home from there.
I might switch from Blue Cross Blue Shield — I’d like to be able to walk to the doctor and avoid the parking nightmare that is the Dekalb medical center!
my doc is a couple blocks away from this location, so I know what its like to be able to walk to my doc. I’m sure Kiaser folks will like this!
As a new K.P member I am so excited! I have lived in Decatur for all 33 years of my life and this will be the first time I can walk to my doc’s office….I am thrilled for the opportunity. Our city values diversity, so having variety in our business district seems fitting.
I think this is great news! We are KP members, too. We already changed our dentist to Nanston b/c they have an office in town. I think it is telling that KP is putting in an office with Peds. Needless to say, there is a great market for pediatric health care in Decatur.
Rob P
I used to be a Kaiser member but switched when I found myself driving to their facility out at Panola Road. This will make me consider switching back.
If I take a certain route to the K.P. office I won’t pass any other store
Where is the old countrywide location?
Oh, TOSSED. The salad=fail place. Got it.