Fenway center plans $55m expansion
Facility to be largest in nation with focus on gay health issues
By Christopher Rowland, Globe Staff | September 19, 2006
The Fenway Community Health Center is kicking off a capital fund-raising campaign for a $55 million clinic and research center that will allow it to grow five times larger and include room to expand its nationally known healthcare programs for the gay community.
The center occupies an unusual niche as an urban community health facility with an academic research focus. It is known for treating gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender patients, as well as for its research and clinical trials to test methods to reduce AIDS and HIV transmission and to search for potential vaccines.
The center has outgrown the 18,000-square-foot building at 7 Haviland St. it has occupied since 1992. Through the campaign, it hopes to generate $16 million in philanthropic contributions to help build a 10-story, 100,000-square-foot building that will be a major component of a block-long development at 1330 Boylston St. by Samuels & Associates .
``We're very excited about it," said Dr. Stephen L. Boswell, the center's president and chief executive. ``It's an unusual community health center that can take a $55 million project like this and make it work."
The developers said the facility, scheduled to be completed in 2008, will be the nation's largest clinic and research center with a focus on gay health issues.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority approved the plan in October. The development will include 215 residential units and 25,000 square feet of ground-level retail space. It will be built across the street from another Samuels & Associates development, the $200 million Trilogy complex, which features 576 rental units, retail shops, restaurants, and underground parking.
Political leaders have lauded the Samuels & Associates plan specifically because it includes the Fenway Health Center.
``Good development should keep an eye out for nonprofits and community organizations. This is the concept of a rising tide lifting all boats," said Boston City Councilor Michael P. Ross , who represents the Fenway neighborhood.
In addition to the $16 million from fund-raising, money from the sale of the Haviland Street building, tax credits, and the issuance of about $28 million in debt bonds will help to finance the new center, Boswell said.
The center will also consolidate some operations from two satellite facilities. ``This new building will bring our staff together in one home," Boswell said.
The Fenway center is one of only seven health centers in the United States with a major focus on treating gays and lesbians. It is the largest provider of outpatient HIV care in New England, serving more than 1,100 people living with HIV/AIDS. Fenway's HIV counseling, testing, and referral program conducts 2,000 HIV tests annually. Overall, the center cares for about 11,000 patients who make 56,000 clinic visits a year.
The public capital campaign for the new building already has raised $7.1 million during its leadership phase. That included a $2 million gift from brothers Ronald and Edmund Ansin. Edmund Ansin is president of Sunbeam Television Corp., owner of WHDH-TV (Channel 7) in Boston and WSVN-TV in Miami. Ansin also plans to buy WLVI-TV (Channel 56) in Boston for $113.7 million, he said last week.
In addition, Fenway's hospital partner, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center , has authorized a $1 million donation to the campaign and is building an additional $1 million commitment into its own capital campaign.
Comedian Lily Tomlin and her partner, Jane Wagner , are national honorary co-chairs of the fund-raising effort. They are contributing to the campaign proceeds from Tomlin's one-woman show ``The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. "
Boswell said the center wants to redefine how patients receive primary care. It plans to open a series of satellite clinics designed specifically for particular Boston neighborhoods. With a shortage of primary care physicians and urban hospitals focusing mostly on the most complex cases, he said, the Fenway center wants to be an innovator in providing preventative care and basic treatments. About half of the center's patients have private insurance, he said.
``Primary care is dying on the vine," Boswell said. ``A big part of what we want to do here is show that primary care can not only survive, but thrive."
Christopher Rowland can be reached at crowland@globe.com.
? Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company
Facility to be largest in nation with focus on gay health issues
By Christopher Rowland, Globe Staff | September 19, 2006
The Fenway Community Health Center is kicking off a capital fund-raising campaign for a $55 million clinic and research center that will allow it to grow five times larger and include room to expand its nationally known healthcare programs for the gay community.
The center occupies an unusual niche as an urban community health facility with an academic research focus. It is known for treating gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender patients, as well as for its research and clinical trials to test methods to reduce AIDS and HIV transmission and to search for potential vaccines.
The center has outgrown the 18,000-square-foot building at 7 Haviland St. it has occupied since 1992. Through the campaign, it hopes to generate $16 million in philanthropic contributions to help build a 10-story, 100,000-square-foot building that will be a major component of a block-long development at 1330 Boylston St. by Samuels & Associates .
``We're very excited about it," said Dr. Stephen L. Boswell, the center's president and chief executive. ``It's an unusual community health center that can take a $55 million project like this and make it work."
The developers said the facility, scheduled to be completed in 2008, will be the nation's largest clinic and research center with a focus on gay health issues.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority approved the plan in October. The development will include 215 residential units and 25,000 square feet of ground-level retail space. It will be built across the street from another Samuels & Associates development, the $200 million Trilogy complex, which features 576 rental units, retail shops, restaurants, and underground parking.
Political leaders have lauded the Samuels & Associates plan specifically because it includes the Fenway Health Center.
``Good development should keep an eye out for nonprofits and community organizations. This is the concept of a rising tide lifting all boats," said Boston City Councilor Michael P. Ross , who represents the Fenway neighborhood.
In addition to the $16 million from fund-raising, money from the sale of the Haviland Street building, tax credits, and the issuance of about $28 million in debt bonds will help to finance the new center, Boswell said.
The center will also consolidate some operations from two satellite facilities. ``This new building will bring our staff together in one home," Boswell said.
The Fenway center is one of only seven health centers in the United States with a major focus on treating gays and lesbians. It is the largest provider of outpatient HIV care in New England, serving more than 1,100 people living with HIV/AIDS. Fenway's HIV counseling, testing, and referral program conducts 2,000 HIV tests annually. Overall, the center cares for about 11,000 patients who make 56,000 clinic visits a year.
The public capital campaign for the new building already has raised $7.1 million during its leadership phase. That included a $2 million gift from brothers Ronald and Edmund Ansin. Edmund Ansin is president of Sunbeam Television Corp., owner of WHDH-TV (Channel 7) in Boston and WSVN-TV in Miami. Ansin also plans to buy WLVI-TV (Channel 56) in Boston for $113.7 million, he said last week.
In addition, Fenway's hospital partner, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center , has authorized a $1 million donation to the campaign and is building an additional $1 million commitment into its own capital campaign.
Comedian Lily Tomlin and her partner, Jane Wagner , are national honorary co-chairs of the fund-raising effort. They are contributing to the campaign proceeds from Tomlin's one-woman show ``The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. "
Boswell said the center wants to redefine how patients receive primary care. It plans to open a series of satellite clinics designed specifically for particular Boston neighborhoods. With a shortage of primary care physicians and urban hospitals focusing mostly on the most complex cases, he said, the Fenway center wants to be an innovator in providing preventative care and basic treatments. About half of the center's patients have private insurance, he said.
``Primary care is dying on the vine," Boswell said. ``A big part of what we want to do here is show that primary care can not only survive, but thrive."
Christopher Rowland can be reached at crowland@globe.com.
? Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company
