November 22, 2024
by Dr. Pat Lee
Central Health President & CEO
Earlier this month, as I walked through the construction site of the former Sears building at the Hancock Center, I felt a profound sense of optimism. To some, the plans for this nearly 200,000-square-foot space might seem like just clinical rooms and medical equipment—but they’re so much more than that. They represent a big step towards building a healthier, more equitable future for our Travis County neighbors.
Transforming Care for Our Patients
This building’s transformation reflects our evolving vision for health care in Travis County. While I’m relatively new to Austin, I’ve come to appreciate how this site represents our community’s history of adaptation and growth. From its origins as part of the Hancock Golf Course to becoming Sears’ flagship store in 1963, this location has always served our community’s changing needs. And now it will have a new purpose–to care for those who need it the most.
Every day, we meet people in our community who have waited too long for care, traveled too far for treatment, or faced too many barriers to health. We are changing that story.
From day one, the new facility will be bringing together:
- Multiple medical specialties
- Complete imaging capabilities
- CommUnityCare primary care services
- An on-site pharmacy complementing our neighbor H-E-B’s services
- Staff from Central Health, CommUnityCare, and Sendero Health Plans
Honoring Our Promises
This $150 million investment reflects our financial stewardship and our determination to eliminate unacceptable wait times for care. Thanks to the taxpayers’ generous support, we can transform how health care is delivered in Travis County.
We’re creating more than just a one-stop clinical hub. This facility will stand as proof of our commitment that every Travis County resident, regardless of income, deserves timely access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare.
