Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy Permitting Submitted to Tillamook County
Author
Tillamook County Pioneer Editor
Date published
May 4, 2024
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Nehalem Bay Health Center/Pharmacy Permitting Submitted to Tillamook County; Project Timeline Anticipates Groundbreaking in mid-July 2024
(Wheeler, OR) – The Nehalem Bay Health District this week submitted to Tillamook County’s Community Development department design and permitting documents for the new Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy in Wheeler. The submittal represents a major milestone in the project and anticipates a permit review schedule by the county that will allow groundbreaking in mid-July 2024.
The new Health Center will replace the existing Nehalem Bay Health Center, housed in a building that was constructed in the 1980’s that has no space for expansion or for the development of new health care services. The new Health Center will be located in a prominent location on U.S. Highway 101 across Hospital Road from the Wheeler City Hall. The new facility will have 15 exam and treatment rooms, a large pharmacy, a dental suite, dedicated space for behavioral health services and a large community meeting room.
Health District president Marc C. Johnson said the board is proud that a significant community project has been developed by a talented all-woman team of architects and designers from Scott Edwards Architecture, as well as a diverse consultant team that met the Health District’s goal of teaming with multiple COBID certified Oregon firms.
(COBID firms are certified as minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and emerging small businesses.)
“This team has worked diligently with the health care and administrative staff of the Nehalem Bay Health Center to plan an efficient, modern facility that will serve our community far into the future,” Johnson said.
The Health District board has also placed a premium on working with firms with substantial health care and coastal design and construction experience. The rest of the District’s team includes The Klosh Group, serving as the District’s owner’s representative and Bremik Construction the construction manager/general contractor.
Here is a timeline of key activities leading to construction of the new Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy:
Health Center/Pharmacy new-build site purchased by Health District: July 2021
Scott Edwards Architecture retained for site planning and highest and best use analysis: Summer 2021
Schematic Design for Health Center/Pharmacy completed: December 2022
Federal funding secured via Congressionally Directed Request: December 2022
Local General Obligation (GO) bond measure for $10.25 million secured: May 17, 2023
Environmental studies completed: Summer 2023
GO bonds sold: September 4, 2023
Klosh Group retained as owner’s representative: September 6, 2023
Design Development documents completed: November 2023
City of Wheeler Design Development approval: December 7, 2023
Bremik Construction retained as Construction Manager/General Contractor: January 2024
Tillamook County permits submitted: April 29, 2024
Groundbreaking projected: Mid-July 2024
Scott Edwards Architecture (SEA) assigned a talented all-woman team of architects and designers to work on the project for the Nehalem Bay Health District. From left, Jenna Hays, Lisa McClellan, Hayley Purdy (project lead), Amy Cripps and Eugenia Fama-Higgins. SEA, at the District’s direction, has also utilized Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Business subcontractors to develop various aspects of the project. (provided photo)
