On Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, the purchase and sale agreement with Noble Healthcare was terminated, and the CRI Building is back on the market, building owner Dusty Dunkle announced. Dunkle said that the termination of the sale was initiated by Noble Healthcare, which was confirmed by DSHS. As we previously reported, Noble was proposing to purchase the building and turn it into a mental healthcare facility. This caused a bit of an uproar in the Seahurst neighborhood, as around 300 residents showed up at an Open House put on by the owners on Jan. 10. The proposed facility – owned and managed by Idaho-based brothers Josh, Cale and Zach Wester – would have provided 24/7 licensed nursing care to 16 residents to age in place, with a staffing ratio of at least 1 staff to 4 residents. Owners were hoping to open the new Enhanced Services Facility (ESF) in late 2019/early 2020. ESFs are a long-term care community residential setting for up to 16 individuals. They are a community option available for people who have been determined ready for discharge from state or community psychiatric hospitals and require a combination of personal care and behavioral health services. “We have always made an effort to be transparent and directly address questions and concerns to the best of our ability,” said Noble Healthcare co-owner Josh Wester. “We are glad that we had the opportunity to meet some of Burien’s residents and answer questions for the attendees who seemed genuinely interested in learning more about the ESF program.” While many residents who spoke at the Open House voiced concerns about opening an Enhanced Services Facility in the Seahurst neighborhood, some community members acknowledged the need for settings like ESFs, which are designed to safely and respectfully serve people with complex care needs. Creating community settings is part of Governor Inslee’s five-year plan to transform Washington’s mental health system, moving from large state run facilities to smaller community-based settings. DSHS will continue to work with Noble Healthcare as its owners make decisions about locations for the planned ESF. “The Wester brothers run a well needed business and I feel they will soon thrive in an ESF location that will be better suited for their patients,” Dunkle told The B-Town Blog. The CRI building, which was built in 1987, was recently listed for sale at $1,495,000. The property features an 11,993 square foot lot, and 6,313 square feet of office space. “This was an incredibly educational experience for my family and as a result we feel compelled to give back to the mental health community,” Dunkle added. “We’ve decided to start by volunteering weekly at a local facility and encourage others to join in. We would love to see great things come out of this for everyone.” The CRI Building is located at 2108 SW 152nd Street, near the Seahurst Post Office: ]]>

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