What's that going in the former Physicians Building on Commercial Street?

Location: 1234 Commercial St. SE

Description: After more than 60 years of operating out of the Physicians Building on Commercial Street south of Owens Street in Salem, the longtime doctor's practice, pharmacy and lab relocated and sold the building to Marion County.

Marion County bought the building in 2022 for $2.4 million and plans to turn it into the Marion County Mental Health Crisis Center.

The Physicians Building group moved into the location on Commercial Street from their previous location at 1280 Center St. in 1957, according to Statesman Journal archives.

The move allowed for more room for equipment and more parking. For decades, the group operated primary care, internal medicine, OB-GYN, a pharmacy and medical laboratory.

The practices operating out of 1234 Commercial St. for decades relocated in 2022.

Signs on the door state Physicians Building Pharmacy moved to 4555 Liberty Road S and reopened as Sunnyslope Pharmacy in September. The locally-owned pharmacy recently announced plans to permanently close on July 24.

Physicians Building Group and Salem Endocrinology, both part of Praxis Health, joined the newly remodeled South Salem Primary Care Clinic at 4999 Skyline Road S in May 2022.

Despite initial plans to have the county's crisis center relocated to the Commercial Street building last fall, it remains unoccupied due to the coordination of contracts and construction work. A Marion County sign appeared along the street, but the parking lot and landscaping are dotted with broken glass and weeds.

The only recent permit filed with the City of Salem for work on the property is a plumbing permit to replace a water main issued in November.

During a Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting in June 2022, Health and Human Services administrator Ryan Matthews said the county identified a need for a larger psychiatric crisis center several years ago.

"We've seen continuous demand and growth in our crisis response," he said, adding the county works with people experiencing mental health crises, substance use problems and homelessness.

The county currently operates the 24-hour Psychiatric Crisis Center on 1118 Oak St. SE near Salem Health. The center provides services to residents of Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. At least one qualified mental health professional works at all times and provides telephone triage, support and referrals.

"It's a very small space and something we've outgrown over time," Matthews said.

The county has relocated some services to other locations due to a lack of space.

Ann-Marie Bandfield, behavioral health crisis services program manager, said the Commercial Street location will replace the Oak Street location.

The new location gives the center the chance to expand from 4,200 square feet to 10,000 square feet.

"This building will house our whole program including our planned expansions," Matthews said, citing the inclusion of 24/7 addiction treatment services and Marion County's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program. "We were really so fortunate to find a clinic so close to the grounds of the hospital as well. It will allow us to continue our relationship with Salem Health."

According to county documents, the building needs new paint, new carpet and a renovated reception area before employees can move inside.

Bandfield said the county hopes to be in the building by early 2024.

"Once completed, all 15 programs will be under one roof, and we will have a separate entrance for youth and families from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.," she said.

Source: Marion County and City of Salem

Is there something under construction you'd like to tell us about or find out more about? Contact reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: What's that going in the former Physicians Building in Salem?