The county acquired the former Behavioral Health System building late last year for $9 million. The seller was real estate developer Barry Swenson who acquired it about a year earlier for $8 million, shortly after Behavioral Health System shut down operations.

Valley Medical Center spokesman Matt Schenone tells GlobeSt.com that the building is now being used to provide inpatient mental-health services. He also confirms that the center will next month ask the county for $4 million to expand its mental-health programs and add about 120 beds to the new center. Schenone says the money would go toward hiring staff to operate the new facility.

Plans for other renovations and major additions to the center are rolling along on schedule, says Schenone. The center announced last year that it plans to build a 230,000-sf facility on its existing campus at the corner of South Bascom and Moorpark Avenues in San Jose.

"Funding has been approved by the Board of Supervisors," Schenone says. "It's in the very preliminary design phases right now." That building, expected to open its doors in 2005, will host a range of services. "That will house all of our outpatient (needs)," Schenone notes. "We're talking everything about from our general surgery services for outpatients to our cardiology clinic, eye clinic, neurology and a few other things under consideration."

The new $94-million facility planned for VMC's existing campus will consolidate outpatient operations currently based in four San Jose locations. Additionally, the VMC is planning a new outpatient facility at Tully and Center Roads. The $21-million, 50,000-sf facility is slated for completion in 2003.

Instant Insights /

County Buys Medical Facility for $9 Mil

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