Austin Wellness Center
“Realizing that communities are strengthened by striving economic and business development, WHA developed a bold vision for the Austin community — the Austin Wellness Center.”
In Austin, signs of economic renewal are everywhere. A significant development was the construction of the Austin Wellness Center, a $7.9 million healthcare facility developed by WHA, which was built by a majority of African American contractors from Austin. The Center opened in July 2004, and with the new Chicago Public Library, serves as a catalyst for other economic development along the Chicago Avenue business corridor, including new facades on older buildings adjacent to the Center. DELETE and a new Chicago Public Library.
The project was initiated by Citizen Leaders who were frustrated with the lack of space and difficulty in getting appointments at the Austin Cook County Health Center (formerly located at 4909 W. Division St.). The plan seemed simple: build a larger health center. But it required tenacity and commitment from community residents to implement. Residents met the challenge and began fundraising by selling catfish dinners, participating in canister drives, and sponsoring events such as the “Millennium Men’s Brunch” and the “Sweethearts Ball.” Their efforts paid off.
Accomplishments:
- 57% of the construction contracts were awarded to African-American contractors; 37% were neighborhood-based.
- The Wellness Center is anchored by the Austin Cook County Health Center which provides quality primary care health services; and the Austin Community Kidney Center, an 18-station dialysis treatment center developed by Frensenius Dialysis Services.
- Contractors leveraged their work on the Austin Wellness Center to obtain larger construction contracts on other developments such as the new 15th district Chicago Police Department and a Chicago Public Library.
- WHA’s economic revitalization projects include a community development center at 5814-16 West Division Street.
