Proponents of a condominium tower planned for Esquimalt Road at Head Street have filed an application with the Town of Esquimalt to include an urgent medical care clinic as part of the building’s ground floor commercial component.

 

West Vancouver-based Lexi Development Group is proposing to situate a state-of-the-art public medical facility spanning some 3,600 square feet within Pacific House, a 57-unit highrise condominium and townhome project making its way through Esquimalt’s municipal planning process.

 

“In exploring options for the building site, [Lexi Development Group] recognized the significant need for a Medical Clinic to replace the clinic that closed in December 2018. The closure of that clinic impacted approximately 4000 individuals and their families leaving them without access to [medical] services within their community,” reads a statement in the proponent’s application package.

 

Late last year a walk-in clinic on Esquimalt Road near Head Street shuttered, leaving Esquimalt residents with a single medical facility at the Esquimalt Plaza shopping centre further west on Esquimalt Road.

 

Given the clinic’s closure, the proponents maintain that “there is a clear need to build a [medical centre] in the heart of Esquimalt, which addresses both the short-term and long-term needs for residents seeking community-based medical services,” and believe their proposal will contribute to the province’s goal of providing all British Columbians with access to primary care providers and medical professionals.

 

Prior to starting construction of the 12-storey building (which will appear to rise 15-storeys from the south side), Lexi Development Group is considering locating up to three 20-foot temporary clinic rooms on the property. The company believes the mobile units are suitable for use as an interim solution. At-present there is no estimate for a construction start period.

 

If approved and built, the Esquimalt urgent care medical clinic would be one of three such facilities on the south Island. In addition to the recently opened St. Anthony’s clinic on Goldstream Avenue in Langford, an urgent care clinic has been announced for Sooke’s Evergreen Centre shopping plaza and will expand an existing clinic already in operation. C

 

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