By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – The North Olympic Healthcare Network, a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center that provides medical, behavioral and dental services, accessible to everyone, including low income or uninsured patients, has just acquired the building on E. First Street in Port Angeles known as Edna’s Place.

NOHN CEO Dr. Michael Maxwell says the extra 11,000 square feet of space is needed in anticipation of the rapidly growing need.

“We’ve identified that there’s a lot of unmet need, much more than we had anticipated. Just in the past six years alone, we’ve taken on over 9,500 new patients and we’re approaching 15,000 patients. And so, to accommodate for this growth, we’ve been planning to expand our provider base. And to anticipate that growth, sort of get ahead of the curve, we were looking for additional space.”

Just a block and a half away from NOHN’s satellite facility, Dr. Maxwell didn’t want to talk about the price they’re paying for the property until the deal is final, but the building, formerly the Fanaticus Restaurant, is listed online at $1.4 million.

Maxwell said the purchase is made possible partially by grant funding, but mostly through a low interest loan guarantee program through local lenders.

Maxwell says they hope to close by September and, if all goes smoothly, be open for business around this time next year.

(Port Angeles Realty photo)