Groundbreaking for the High Desert Mental Health Care Center

SHOVEL READY!

Lancaster – Monday, January 27 was a red banner day for the Antelope Valley as the groundbreaking for the High Desert Mental Health Care Center was held. Deputy Supervisor Donna Termeer was the hostess with Supervisor Kathryn Barger as the main speaker and joined by dignitaries from the Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, Los Angeles County Health Services and Department of Mental Health, Public Works and Stars Behavioral Health Group. Donna Termeer opened the ceremony with a declaration of what a beautiful day for the Antelope Valley … Yay!! It set the upbeat tone for the ceremony. Supervisor Barger was treated to a lengthy standing ovation and shouts of support for her consistent dedication to the Antelope Valley in every area. The ceremony tent was packed to capacity with standing room only. The hard-to-reach mental health resources in the North County will come to an end. It launched a $16.5M project which will serve Antelope Valley families on a 24/7 basis and conveniently close to home. With this facility critical needs will be met side by side with The High Desert Regional Health Center already in full operation. Health care is expanding exponentially in the Antelope Valley. “Services will be seamless and user friendly,” the Supervisor promised. “With all of the City and County leaders embracing this project and my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors supporting the Center, we are getting things done.” Barger honored Miss Judy Cooperberg (pictured), M.S., C.P.R.P. who is the Fifth District’s Commissioner for Mental Health and Executive Director of Mental Health America of Los Angeles thanking her for staying with the planning for years and the numerous contributions made to furthering mental health care in the Antelope Valley. “Thanks to everyone who shepherded this project for the past 10 years, thanks for your advocacy and your pursuits. We will continue our collaborations with our partners and stake holders. Let’s stay optimistic,” declared Barger. Mark Pestrella, Director of Public Works, said, “We are building this facility. We are building it on time and on budget. We are making a $16.5M investment covering 9,900 square feet of wood and structural steel and an ambulance drive. Buildings are about people. Our MEP and HVAC will be world class systems. We will have a water-capture system for our drought resistant landscaping. We also will have at least 30% employment from the surrounding communities. It is good to see heavy construction equipment on the grounds today. We will have a ribbon cutting in October of this year.” The architect is Perkins-Eastman. The contractor that will be operating the facility, Star View Behavioral Health, is already in the Antelope Valley. The PENTA Building Group will handle the construction. The Center will help reduce local emergency room crowding and unnecessary hospitalizations. 

By Shirley Harriman