The conversion of the West Main Street convalescent hospital into a county social rehabilitation/crisis residential facility serving seriously mentally ill adults is now off the table, less than a week after the proposal was publicized. According to a county handout the Board of Supervisors was on the cusp of approving the purchase of Santa Paula Healthcare, a 44-bed facility, located at 220 W. Main St., which closed in recent months. (Photo by Debbie Johnson)

County Behavioral Health no longer considering SP Healthcare for facility

July 10, 2009
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula TimesThe conversion of a West Main Street convalescent hospital into a county social rehabilitation/crisis residential facility serving seriously mentally ill adults is now off the table, less than a week after the proposal was publicized.According to a county handout, the Board of Supervisors was on the cusp of approving the purchase of Santa Paula Healthcare, a 44-bed facility located at 220 W. Main St., which closed in recent months. The Ventura County Behavioral Health Care Agency was considering converting the building into a 15-bed non-lockdown treatment center for patients not requiring hospitalization who would be treated voluntarily. The facility is located east of Glen City Elementary School.According to Ventura County Behavioral Health Agency Director Melanie Roy, the county is no longer pursuing the location as an option, although in an earlier interview she noted the site was one of several being considered countywide. She said the county had approached the Santa Paula Ministerial Association, City of Santa Paula and the principal of Glen City School for “what if” discussions of the proposal, which would serve patients transitionally who had been in secured and non-secured treatment facilities.There was never any intention, said Roy in Tuesday’s telephone interview, that the “department would not solicit appropriate community input” before finalizing plans. On Thursday Roy said the West Main Street facility is now not being considered.“We did have a property under consideration, but we’ve always had other options we’re continuing to look at.” Santa Paula Healthcare “is not an option we’re considering now” for what Roy said is “a variety of reasons.”
Vice Mayor Jim Tovias said although he has been told the purchase price of the facility was an issue, “My feeling is enough people called opposing the facility” that the proposal was abandoned. Tovias spoke to Santa Paula Elementary School District Board President Tony Perez and the district superintendent about the issue, and Tovias said they were unaware - and not supportive - of the proposal.The City Council and Planning Commission were also notified. “The new use of the building would have needed a Conditional Use Permit, and I didn’t see that happening,” said Tovias. “I think maybe they jumped the gun” on the proposal, but “I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt” that property negotiations were unsuccessful.Tovias said, “Historically the county has given us the dump and the jail, and this type of facility is not something Santa Paula needs right now. I think they heard the concern of the citizens, and I think they’ll look for a facility elsewhere.”If the purchase had been completed this month, the county estimated planning, approvals and renovation work would have been completed in July 2010 with the program startup and occupancy in September 2010.



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