New $3 million REA Clinic for Du Quoin
The Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation will start construction next year on what is believed to be a new $3 million REA family medical center on the site of the old Bridal Originals garment factory on the east side of Rt. 51 south of Du Quoin.
It will replace the existing REA Clinic on Gas Plant Road just south of the Southtowne Shopping Center, according to spokeswoman Linda Quillman of Du Quoin, the corporation's comptroller.
"A landmark building, once home to the sewing and garment industry in Southern Illinois will be no more," said Quillman.
"Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation recently purchased the former Bridal Originals building and surrounding ground from owner, Carl Hagler, for the location of the new REA clinic in Du Quoin," she adds.
"It is said that 'good things come to those who wait,' which has most definitely been the case for Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation. The search for a location in which to facilitate the expansion of REA Clinic-Du Quoin to better serve the community has been ongoing for the past several years. However, after a long, arduous process and several negotiations for property ending in disappointment, CRHPC with the much appreciated assistance of Perry County Treasurer Bill Taylor, was led to Mr. Hagler," she said.
"Sending the benefit for the area that the proposed new clinic would bring, Mr. Hagler dealt, in good faith, with CRHPC resulting in the sale of what is believed to be the perfect location for the proposed 15,000 sq. ft. medical clinic," Quillman said.
Demolition of the Bridal Originals building and land preparation is set to take place this fall with ground breaking and erection of the new clinic to follow in the spring of 2014.
The new clinic will be equipped to accommodate a total of eight medical providers, four in addition to the four currently practicing at the current location on Gas Plant Road.
The clinic will have the look and feel of the Sesser Community Health Center east of Sesser built three years ago, and construction of the beautiful new REA Clinic on Rt. 14 in Christopher, also home to the Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation. It was Quillman's vision that brought the original REA Clinic to Du Quoin, housed in a still-beautiful building constructed for an upscale day care facility years ago. That building is expected to have a great deal of professional appeal once it is vacated.Bridal Originals closed its Du Quoin garment factory in 2002.