Poway Health Center breaks ground

Ground was broken on Tuesday at the long-anticipated Gold Family Health Center on Poway Road following years of fundraising.

The health center will provide health care for about 7,500 low income people in Poway and the surrounding areas, regardless if they can pay. Currently, the closest health center is in Escondido, a two-and-a-half hour bus ride away.

The health center will provide both medical care and mental health care, and will be a more cost-effective option for health care than visiting an emergency room when unable to afford a visit to a doctor.

Though it is aimed at lower income citizens, anyone can visit the health center and utilize its services, said Tracy Ream, CEO of Neighborhood Healthcare. “When people hear about what great doctors we have, they want to come regardless,” said Ream.

Construction is scheduled to begin by mid-June and will be completed by the end of the year, said Ream.

Though the nonprofit organization has not quite reached its $3 million goal, Ream said they were close enough that they could begin construction and said she knew they could raise the rest in time.

Discussion about opening a health center in Poway began over 10 years ago, said Ream.

The lot on Poway Road, which was formerly a Wendy’s restaurant, was purchased by the nonprofit for $1.2 million in 2010, with the help of Alan and Debbie Gold, for whom the health center is named.

The Golds donated $500,000 to the project as a match for funds raised. The center’s name will honor Alan Gold’s parents, Martin and Delia Gold, who lived in Poway for more than 50 years.

“I’m truly very excited (about the ground breaking),” said Alan Gold. “I couldn’t be any prouder. I wish my parents were here to see it, and see their children give back to their community.” Gold’s parents died in 2004 and 2008.

Ream said that her only regret about the project was that they didn’t get it done sooner so Martin and Delia Gold could have seen it. “But what a great way to remember and honor them,” said Ream.

Several members of the Gold family were on hand to witness the ground breaking ceremony, as well as representatives from Palomar Health, State Senator Joel Anderson’s office and members of the Poway Chamber of Commerce, who presented Neighborhood Healthcare with a $1,000 check of funds earned from the chamber’s Mickey Cafagna Golf Memorial Classic earlier this year.

City councilman Dave Grosch was also at the ground breaking. Grosch said during a short speech at the ceremony that he had been involved with the project for about five years, and that despite what people might think about Poway, about 10 percent of its population lives below the poverty line.

“After five long years it’s great to be here, and the City of Poway is happy that you’re here,” said Grosch.