GRC News Archive
New Purpose
2011-12-18
By Sharon Caskey Hayes NET News Service
Kingsport--It's been several years in the making, but the newly renovated "Press Building" in downtown Kingsport is ready for its big reveal.
Mountain Region Family Medicine moved into the new facility late last week and plans to begin seeing patients in this location on Monday. The physician group purchased the entire second floor of teh aptly named Press Building, a three-story complex that once housed the old Kingsport Press manufacturing plant.
Last week, the NET News Service was given a tour of the building by Mountain Region Family Medicine Practice Administrator Jerry Flannery and Mountain Region President Dr. Mack Hicks.
"I think everyone is happy to see what was an eyesore turned into something that looks good and benefits downtown Kingsport," said Hicks.
Construction crews were putting the finishing touches on the building last week in preparation for the opening. The front entrance of the building faces Sullivan Street, and while not completed just yet, a "mini museum" will be located at the front entryway, depicting the history of the property. Flannery said construction crews uncovered old bindings during demolition, and those along with old photographs and other memorabilia will be displayed in the museum area.
Visitors will access the second floor either by elevator or stairway. They can also drive around to a parking lot next to Roller Street, and access the second floor there.
The second floor includes 68,000 square feet of space. Of that, 56,000 square feet has been finished for use by the physician group. The rest will be available for completion as needed.
Flannery said the physicians started looking for a central location several years ago. The group was formed in 1994 and had grown to include 17 primary care physicians, one nurse practitioner and 85 employees--all scattered in seven locations--five in Kingsport, one in Gate City and one in Nickelsville.
Flannery said the physicians liked the idea of rehabilitating an old building downtown instead of constructing one from the ground up.
"This is probably a better way to support the community instead of going and constructing a new building," he said.
The new central location will combine four of the group's offices, including 11 physicians and one nurse practitiones. The Colonial Heights office and the Gate City and Nickelsville offices in Southwest Virginia will remain open to serve patients in those areas.
For Hicks, coming to work the old Press Building has special meaning--his father, Mack L. Hicks Jr.--worked at the Kingsport Press years ago.
"It's sort of like coming full circle," he said.
The old book manufacturing plant operated in the 1920s and operated for years as the Kingsport Press. It later became Arcata Graphics, then Quebecor World, until it closed in 2006.