Building Sale No Threat to Clinic: Manatee Glens Takes Sole Control of Family Emergency Treatment

By Donna Wright, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

Jul. 5–A “For Sale” sign recently appeared at Family Emergency Treatment, 1404 Tamiami Trail.

But the listing in no way threatens the operation of the walk-in, mental-health clinic, according to Deborah Kostrun, chief operating officer for Manatee Glens.

As of Sunday, Manatee Glens became the sole manager of the walk-in clinic, established in 1999 under a partnership with First Step of Sarasota and Coastal Recovery, an addiction treatment center.

The walk-in clinic for mental health patients was the first of its kind in Florida when it opened in 1999, financed in part through a $750,000 state grant.

Until the building is sold, the clinic will remain at its present location, said Kostrun. The clinic will then move to Pinnacle Plaza on Sixth Avenue East, where Manatee Glens has its administrative offices and counseling services.

First Step, which owns the building, and Coastal dropped out of the partnership this year “for efficiency reasons,” said David Beasley, First Step’s executive director.

First Step is asking $1.15 million for the property.

Troy Dugan, a local contractor and president of the Tamiami Trail Business Owners Association, hopes a new business buys the parcel.

“That building seems like it is in good shape and it’s fairly attractive,” Dugan said. “Someone could move in easily.”

Dugan said he believes the two-story layout fits perfectly with Bradenton’s redevelopment plan for Tamiami Trail — retail on the ground floor and residential above.

Lee De Lieto, the agent with Michael Saunders who is listing the 11,266-square-foot property, said the value lies mainly in the land.

Meanwhile, Kostrun said Manatee Glens is ready to expand its services.

“We are very excited,” said Kostrun. “We have very much enjoyed our partnership with First Step and Coastal, but we see great potential for incorporating the walk-in center with other services offered by Manatee Glens. We are arranging for a new sign that will read Manatee Glens Walk-In Center.”

Brian Cornish will continue as manager of the walk-in clinic, which will maintain the same 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. schedule Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, the center will be open from 9:30 to 6 p.m., Kostrun said.

After hours, callers will be referred to Manatee Glens Access Center and the Mobile Crisis Unit, which makes house calls. Both are open 24/7.

The sale of the building on Tamiami Trail triggers potential new life for a historic building that has seen many reincarnations.

First built as a hotel at the turn of the century, the property has been home to several restaurants under the names of 14th Street West, Azteca and, most recently, Bogie’s, a dining and nightspot that carried a Casablanca theme.

But the property has also gone through several periods when it was an eyesore. Prior to being renovated for the walk-in clinic, the vacant, run-down building was home for the homeless.

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