(Credit: Central Health District)
Central Health, Travis County’s taxpayer-funded health care district, is buying 10-acres of land in the Hornsby Bend area to build a new health and wellness center that will serve Eastern Travis County residents with low income.
The property, located on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Sandifer Streets next to Dailey Middle School in Del Valle ISD, has a purchase price of $770,000, the fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser, according to county officials.
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved the land purchase Tuesday, July 23. Funds for the purchase are included in Central Health’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget and support the healthcare district’s multi-year strategy to expand care in underserved areas east of downtown Austin.
“This would not have happened without the support, input and guidance of community members who live in Austin’s Colony and Hornsby Bend,” Central Health President and CEO Mike Geeslin said. “We’re especially grateful to the Dailey family, longtime residents of the area, for sharing our vision for expanding health care services in their community, and selling us the land for a new clinic.”
By 2022, Central Health projects that 476 families in poverty will live in the Greater Hornsby Bend area – about 17{fbcf2a5c42fe71624047a18c73673849799bd5d53cdb5d8ca16f4833367ca63d} of the population, compared to the 12{fbcf2a5c42fe71624047a18c73673849799bd5d53cdb5d8ca16f4833367ca63d} county-wide average. A family living in poverty is defined as two or more people in the same household with total income below the poverty threshold. In 2019, for a family of two that is $15,569. For four people, the threshold is $24,563.
“Buying this property represents a significant milestone in Central Health’s ongoing efforts to bring more health services to Eastern Travis County communities like Austin’s Colony/Greater Hornsby Bend,” Central Health Board Chair Dr. Guadalupe Zamora said. “This isn’t the only area in need, or the only area we’re focused on helping, but our neighbors in this area have been waiting a long time for services and I’m really pleased we’re moving this project forward with the support of our community partners, CommUnityCare, and Travis County Commissioners.”
While a permanent clinic is being planned and built, Central Health is buying a 1,200 square-foot, preconstructed modular clinic that will be placed next to Travis County Emergency Service District 4 at 14312 Hunters Bend Road. The clinic, which is expected to open this fall, will feature three exam rooms and offer primary care, chronic disease management, vaccines, on-site lab, limited pharmacy services, and a flexible space for behavioral health services and enrolling people in health coverage.
