JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — There are many vacant buildings in Johnstown, so instead of knocking them down, why not build them back up?
The building located at the intersection of Central Ave and Osborne Street has been vacant since 2016.
Six years later, and the building finally has a purpose again.
The old Cambria Rowe Business College is transforming into a medical center that will provide a variety of health services.
Dr. George Frem CEO of St. Georges Laboratory is turning the old school building into the Ave Maria Medical Center.
Dr. Frem is signing the paperwork today which would allow contractors to get on site and turn these classrooms into doctor offices.
Monsignor Raymond Balta of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, “I'd like to see in person medical care rather than just over the computer. I think face to face medical care and care is something that is really important and I think people would really like this.”
Balta and Frem worked together through the entire process leading up to today with the papers finally being signed, and will continue to – even when Balta is a patient.
Balta tells 6 news, “We’re excited about it at the Redevelopment Authority. With the business plan that you'll see that the doctor has, it serves a lot of the needs of the community. Its what the community really needs. There are no urgent care facilities in the city of Johnstown”
And this urgent care is different than any other.
Ave Maria Medical Center will provide medical practices targeted toward women, the elderly and children.
“In addition were going to have a full kitchen where we are going to do something that has never been done before. We are going to be able to provide meals for people who have diabetes, or heart failure, or obesity where these meals are tailored to their needs so they are going to be eating healthy and promoting health in the healthy community” says Dr. Frem.
Dr. Frem says he already has successful medical businesses in Windber and Johnstown, but non-similar to this new one.
He tells WJAC, “I've been in this town for twenty years and I love this community, so my heart is in it and I want to see it do well and give my patients the choices they deserve when it comes to medical care.”
Dr. Frem tells me he would like to open the medical center today; however, it’s looking to open in about a year.
He added how he would love the grand opening to be on August 15th, the Blessed Mothers Feast Day.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRflnqvsdZmpJ6cmZiurXnCnqWtnaJitrR5wGawnpmiYq64rdhmnaunnWLBqbGMoKmappRivLGxzaKloA%3D%3D