Spokane County commissioners have approved the move of American Behavioral Health Systems Inc., a Spokane company that operates a chemical-dependency treatment center here, to a former Spokane Valley nursing home.


American Behavioral has hired Baker Construction & Development Inc., of Spokane, to remodel the about 55,300-square-foot facility at 12715 E. Mission, says Craig Phillips, American Behaviorals CEO. The remodeling project, which hasnt been approved yet by the city of Spokane Valley, is expected to cost between $700,000 and $800,000 and will be completed in phases, he says.


The new treatment center location is expected to begin admitting a few patients in March, Phillips says.


We have clients that are waiting to be admitted, he says, adding that there is a high demand for inpatient chemical dependency services.


The American Behavioral facility is expected to have 200 licensed beds, up from the 117 it has now. The building previously housed the Mission Good Samaritan Center, a nursing home that closed in 2004.


American Behavioral currently occupies a 33,000-square-foot building at 44 E. Cozza on the North Side. The company bought the building in 1998, and Phillips says it hasnt decided yet whether it will sell that building or continue to use it.