Health-care businesses move to Industrial Blvd.
Owner worries location change could cause clients problems
South East Alaska Medical Suppliers and Cornerstone Home Health moved to new office space on Industrial Boulevard last week, making way for Bartlett Regional Hospital's orthopedic staff at the Salmon Creek Professional Center.
The two private health-care agencies, owned by Rich and Corrine Rago of Juneau, were given 30 days notice to move from the building near Salmon Creek on Hospital Drive on Sept. 30. The move has been disruptive to the businesses and the clients they serve, Corrine Rago said.
"I'm just very concerned about our clients, I'm very concerned about the people we serve not being able to reach us or just getting busy signals," she said. "I want them to know not only are we not going out of business, but they need to keep trying."
South East Alaska Medical Suppliers, or SEAMS, provides home medical equipment and supplies, including oxygen. It moved to 2435 Industrial Boulevard last week. Cornerstone Home Health provides at-home nursing and paraprofessional support to about 90 people in seven Southeast communities.
Cornerstone plans to move to a building that has been occupied by Hospice and Home Care of Juneau on Hospital Drive on Dec. 15, Rago said. Hospice is merging with Catholic Community Service offices downtown. Until Dec. 15, some of its staff have moved to Industrial Boulevard with SEAMS.
Cornerstone and SEAMS had a five-year lease with Tom Neubauer, the owner of the Salmon Creek Professional Center, which expired in April, Rago said. A request to stay until Dec. 15 wasn't granted, she said.
John Williams of Juneau Real Estate, the leasing agent for the Salmon Creek building, said the two businesses had been on a month-to-month lease since April.
"The landlord had an opportunity for a 10-year lease with Bartlett," he said. "The day that negotiations were complete, Cornerstone and SEAMS were provided with 31 days notice to vacate."
Alaska law requires landlords to provide 30 days notice to vacate for residential property, but no such requirement is in place for commercial property, Williams said.
"The obligations of the landlord were met or exceeded," he said.
Bartlett Regional Hospital plans to use 5,300 square feet of space in the Salmon Creek building for three orthopedic surgeons, according to Hospital Administrator Bob Valliant. The hospital's new orthopedic surgeon - Daniel Harrah - is now in a building at Bartlett that will be torn down next year as part of Project 2005, a major expansion and renovation at the hospital.
"Eventually we hope to have three orthopedic surgeons working out of that office," he said.
The hospital traditionally has hired orthopedic surgeons under a two-year contract with the hope they will go into private practice in town. Bartlett wasn't involved in the discussions with SEAMS and Cornerstone, Valliant said.
"All I know is I was looking for space and they called and said they have space," he said. "I don't have it within my power to grant (an extension for SEAMS and Cornerstone). That's the landlord's domain."
The Juneau Boxing Club and White Oak Broadcasting also will move out of the Salmon Creek building to make room for Bartlett, Williams said. The Juneau Planning Commission will hear a request for an allowable use permit and a parking variance related to Bartlett's move Nov. 12, according to city planner Monique Wheeler.
Joanna Markell can be reached at joannam@juneauempire.com.