Mattapan health center building ‘topped off’; lots of good will fills the air in the Square

A crowd of Mattapan community members gathered in the August sun last Wednesday to celebrate the “topping off” of the Mattapan Community Health Center’s new facility in the Square. The gathering was held to witness the installation of the final steel beam in the edifice’s frame, for which ground was broken last September.

“We would not have come this far without the support of the community,” said Dr. Azzie Young, president and CEO of MCHC. “We hope that many people are healed and empowered by coming to this facility.”

The final beam was painted white and visitors were invited to sign their names and goodwill messages. Workers affixed a young evergreen tree, symbolizing the new life of the building, and a small American flag, representing the American dream, to the piece.

“I was surprised to see that there weren’t any empty spaces on the beam,” said JudyAnn Bigby, the state Secretary of Health and Human services. “There are so many people whose spirits will be represented in this building.”

Located at 1575 Blue Hill Ave, the 5,000 square-foot building is four stories high, and will include expanded dental, mammography, and nutritional facilities. Planned as a mixed-use facility, the building will house a brand-new CVS pharmacy and a Citizens Bank, which occupied the lot previously, as tenants on the ground floor. The structure is meant to be environmentally friendly as well. Seeking a Silver Leadership through Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the designers included eco-friendly features such as a green roof and sustainable building materials.

The $32-million dollar project was made possible partly by $11.5 million in federal stimulus funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. The federal contribution was a part of a healthcare grant of $80 million awarded statewide. The rest of the money came from an assortment of private investments, tax equity, and New Market tax credits—as well as nearly $9 million raised through the Health Center’s philanthropic efforts.

The fund-raising did not stop once the building was paid for. MCHC has also applied for a so-called “Challenge Grant” from a Detroit-based philanthropic organization, The Kresge Institute, with the challenge being that MCHC would be awarded $500,000 if it manages to raise $1.2 million on its own from a variety of sources. To this end, MCHC staff have begun selling spots on a decorative wall that will be featured at the new building.

“I’m excited! I can already see my office space,” said Jennifer Morriset, a nurse at the health center. “I think there is a great need for this in the community, especially the mammography services. We will be able to meet that need much better with this new building.”

The new facility is planned to open next summer. According to MCHC officials, the project has created 200 temporary jobs during the construction, many of which are held by local residents. After completion, MCHC hopes to create at least 40 new jobs.

“Mattapan is a good place to live,” said Stanford Cole, a Mattapan resident and construction worker with Local 7 Ironworks who has been employed in the Health Center project. “I think that the new health center will be a good, positive thing for the community. It really shows that we are looking forward as a community.”


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