Health district follows crowd

HAYDEN, Idaho – The explosion of growth in this once-sleepy bedroom community on Coeur d’Alene’s northern hemline took another patch of earth on Tuesday.

The Panhandle Health District broke ground in Hayden on a 46,000-square-foot, two-story building that will have the look of a new high school. The building will rise on Atlas Road just south of Honeysuckle Avenue and next door to Atlas Elementary School, which will open this fall.

“When we looked at relocating, we considered Post Falls,” said Jeanne Bock, Panhandle Health District director. “It made more sense to move north with the population.”

The health district headquarters will take over prairie land used for growing grain not so long ago. Agriculture no longer rules Hayden’s west side. Asphalt streets and curbs have replaced country roads. Seven hundred homes are sprouting across the street from Atlas Elementary School in neatly manicured subdivisions called Broadmoore Estates, Sunview and Strawberry Fields.

The change in Hayden doesn’t’ surprise Lisa Key, the city’s community planner.

“It makes logical sense. We have municipal services. We have a city. It’s the next likely place for people to go,” she said.

Bock noticed Hayden’s growth as she and her board of directors studied the county for a new home. In 1990, 3,744 people lived in Hayden. By 2000, the population had grown to 9,159. Key said the city estimates its population at 11,577 now.

The growth was enough for the Coeur d’Alene School District to build a new elementary school in the area. The school district collaborated with the health district, filling 15 acres between them and each hand-picking its neighbor.

For Bock, the move to Hayden made sense. Land in Coeur d’Alene costs too much now, she said, particularly a lot large enough for Panhandle Health’s needs. The new building will unite all of the health district’s Kootenai County operations – family planning, environmental protection and monitoring, nutrition, immunizations, health education, bioterrorism preparedness and more. The Panhandle Health District is one seven such districts in the state that serve as primary outlets for public health services.

Panhandle Health’s services are spread over five different locations in Coeur d’Alene now, from storefronts in strip malls to rented office space. A public health operation should be easily accessible to the public it serves, Bock said.

In Hayden, “It will be a community resource,” she said. “It will be used. People will come to take smoking cessation classes. We’ll have room for trainings.”

The health district will fit nicely in Hayden, Key said.

“It’s a real asset. We’re excited about what they’ll do with their site,” she said.

Panhandle Health plans landscaping that will demonstrate different types of stormwater treatment. It’ll use natural plants and less water.

“It’s an opportunity for us to point people in that direction and say, ‘Go check it out,’ ” Key said.

The city’s building permit to the health district is one of 1,095 it issued last year. The city of Post Falls issued fewer than 100 more at 1,168.

“We’re experiencing huge kinds of growth,” Key said. “What’s shocking is we’re seeing significant growth in commercial and industrial. We had four annexations last year and we’re dealing with a very large annexation – 600 acres – now. It’s challenging.”

Bock said she hopes the area around her new headquarters, which costs about $5.2 million, will attract a health club and restaurants. The health district has 98 employees. Many work out now at the Ironwood Athletic Club across the street from the office they’ll vacate by June next year, she said.

“A workout facility is important, and there are no cafes or delis out here,” Bock said.

First things first, Key said. With the extra traffic expected, the city will install traffic signals at Prairie Avenue and Atlas Road and at Prairie Avenue and Ramsey Road by the end of the year, she said.

Hayden is scrambling to keep up with its new popularity, but it isn’t complaining.

“We’re making a lot of progress. Because of growth, there’s a lot of pressure on the infrastructure,” Key said. “But we’re moving full steam ahead. The City Council had a great deal of foresight to hire a professional staff that makes sure it happens in a controlled manner.”