UMC to build new clinic in south-central El Paso
University Medical Center is expanding accessibility to health care for El Paso residents.
UMC confirmed a former motel in south-central El Paso will be torn down and the property will be turned into a new clinic. It will be the third satellite clinic for UMC that will be paid for with bond money approved by taxpayers in 2012.
Earlier this year, UMC opened two clinics, one in east El Paso at 1521 Joe Battle Blvd. and another located at 6600 N. Desert Blvd. on the westside.
The third location will be just a block north of the UMC main campus, formerly the Vagabond Inn and Motel 6 located at 4800 Gateway Blvd. East. The motel was built in 1966 and will be demolished in January.
Groundbreaking and construction is expected to begin in late 2018.
“It’s a great location, easy access right off of I-10 and there’s very high visibility,” Ryan Mielke said, Director of Public of Affairs for UMC.
Not only will it offer a new location for residents, but Mielke said it will alleviate outpatient traffic at UMC.
The west El Paso clinic offers pediatric services and X-rays among other services.
While an estimate for the new clinic could not be given just yet, the westside location cost $20-25 million. The clinic came in under budget, initial estimates were at about $40 million in construction for each clinic.
Mielke said UMC paid $5.5 million for the Vagabond property and land.
Taxpayers will not be impacted because the money came from a 2012 bond.
