
Harsch Converting Former Wapato Jail to COVID-19 Facility in Northwest Portland
Bybee Lakes Hope Center signed a deal to take space at Harsch Investment Properties’ 155,000-square-foot facility in northwest Portland. The former Wapato jail is expected to be converted into a 228-bed facility for patients to safely isolate and recover from COVID-19.
Harsch purchased the property in 2018 and has been working with Helping Hands to raise more than $4 million in private donations to renovate the site into a valuable resource for the homeless population. The company’s Jordan Schnitzer says, “COVID-19 is a crisis impacting every citizen in our state. Working with Helping Hands and the State of Oregon, I am pleased that Wapato could be used as a facility to help Oregonians survive this health emergency.”
A team from construction manager, DAYCPM, is working to quickly identify necessary building improvements for COVID-19 patients, including an upgraded ventilation system, utilities and equipment, and ensuring the rest of the facility can be operational as soon as possible.
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