By Meghan Hall
As coronavirus continues to spread throughout the Pacific Northwest, both state and local officials have moved to acquire properties in an effort to isolate those who have been infected with the virus. At the beginning of March, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed a Proclamation of Emergency, enabling the purchase of a Seattle-area motel to isolate patients. And in a transaction that closed at the end of last week, Washington State officials could be following suit. In a sale that was finalized on March 26th, the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services purchased a Seattle nursing and rehabilitation home for $13.5 million, or about $203 per square foot. The seller is two entities: McCallen & Sons Inc. and LJM Holdings LLC, both of Kirkland, Wash.
The facility, known as Paramount Rehabilitation and Nursing, is located at 2611 S. Dearborn St. King County parcel data shows that the building was constructed in 1963 and totals just over 66,400 square feet. According to its website, the property features state-of-the-art therapy rooms, outdoor spaces and a variety of programs and activities. Records from the Department of Health show that the nursing home has 165 licensed beds.
It is unclear if this property will be specifically used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the Seattle region. However, at the end of February, Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency that directed state agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services to use all resources necessary to respond to the outbreak.
“This will allow us to get the resources we need,” Inslee stated at the time. “This is a time to take common-sense, proactive measures to ensure the health and safety of those who live in Washington state. Our state agency directors have been actively preparing since the nation’s first case appeared in Snohomish County.”
King County officials have been taking similar measures; at the beginning of March county officials authorized the purchase of a local motel in Kent, Wash., for $4 million, which will be used to isolate patients. Modular units will also be placed on public properties in an effort to create more space for those infected.
