A former hospital sitting on 17 acres in southeast Albuquerque may soon be re-purposed as a center providing a range of services for the homeless.
Located at 5400 Gibson Boulevard SE, the 572,000 square foot structure was formerly the home of the Loveland Medical Center.
The Lovelace Health System sold the 40 year-old building in 2007 after moving into new facilities to the east of downtown Albuquerque.
The City of Albuquerque has now purchased the 4-story structure for $15 million with the intention of turning a large part of the building into emergency shelter space housing up to 175 beds.
Noting that the city’s homeless population has seen an increase in the last year, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, in a press conference, remarked: “This facility could not come at a better time.”
The Mayor and other city officials have often talked of the need for having a single, large facility that would provide both shelter for the homeless, as well as a variety of medical services.
Keller described the acquisition and eventual reconversion of the building as a “huge step towards making our vision of an integrated system a reality, but our work to continue the public input process with neighborhoods and activate the site is just beginning.”
The building is expected to provide additional space for anywhere from 25 to 50 beds for individuals with medical recovery issues. Earlier reports indicated that a reconversion of the building would also include the construction of intake space and private individual rooms.
How much it will cost to upgrade and convert the former hospital has not yet been announced. Nor is it known the range of services the facility will ultimately provide. “We’re going to test things, we’re going to experiment with things; we’re going to find out what works best over time,” said Keller.
Next to the Albuquerque International Sunport, the one-time hospital, which also includes office, kitchen, and cafeteria space, will comprise the largest single facility owned by the City of Albuquerque.
By Garry Boulard
