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Embattled Doctor Wins Auction For Former Century Hospital Building
February 17, 2017
The Century doctor that battled the state to operate out of the town’s former hospital has now purchased the building at auction.
Dr. Christian Bachman’s Mayo Street Medical, Inc. was the sole bidder on the facility Thursday, according to Jason Mahon, public information specialist for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, owners of the former hospital. Bachman bid $21,000 for the 1.69 acre property and 24,000 square foot building at 7600 Mayo Street, well above the $13,500 minimum bid.
The DEP served Mayo Street Medical a cease and desist order keeping the public out of the building and effectively closing the medical office in February 2016. Since that time, Bachman has continued to make house calls to see his patients.
“I believe this ordeal finally has a happy ending,” Bachman told NorthEscambia.com Thursday evening as he was driving between house calls. He expects to repair code violations and make tornado repairs to the building quickly, with hopes that his medical practice will be open again within about six months. He also expects to re-open his research laboratory, which was heavily damaged a year ago in Century’s EF-3 tornado.
Now that he will own the building, Bachman also said he’s considered making space available in the facility for other businesses, hopefully creating additional jobs.
Bachman’s 50 Year Lease
In a letter dated August 26, 2015, Century Health Care Access (CHCA) and Dr. Bachman, president of CHCA and physician for Mayo Street Medical, were ordered to vacate the facility by September 30, 2015, by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The eviction date passed, with Bachman and his medical practice receiving much media attention that began with a NorthEscambia.com story. As a result, Bachman said, DEP shifted their position, which at first seemed like a positive breakthrough. But with time, he said he realized it appeared the DEP simply changed their strategy to making “impossible demands”.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office also demanded changes that the doctor said were impracticable to impossible. Demands included repairs to large areas of ceilings that were patched by DEP or their contractors in the 1990’s to install a new fire sprinkler system. He said it was not possible to obtain the permits for the work in a short time period, much less make the costly repairs.
Bachman refused to budge, continuing to operate his medical practice, seeing patients regardless of their ability to pay and even making house calls.
On Friday afternoon, February 12, 2016, law enforcement officers served Bachman a cease and desist order that demanded that no member of the public be allowed inside the building due to fire code violations.
A Stormy End
Bachman said the cease and desist order from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was served on him about 3:45 to 4:00 on that Friday afternoon, with a 72-hour provision to comply. Almost exactly to the minute 72 hours later, the most powerful tornado to hit Escambia County in 45 years roared through Century with winds over 150 mph, and wiped out numerous homes in Century around Bachman’s office. The hospital building suffered damage, but the structure survived intact.
Bachman told NorthEscambia.com at the time that he found great irony in the fact that the building was deemed unsafe, but it was the very place many Century residents ran to for shelter during and after the EF-3 tornado.
When Gov. Rick Scott toured the tornado damage in Century in late Feburary 2016, it presented Bachman with a sudden and unexpected opportunity to discuss his battles with state government face to face with the state’s top elected official.
As Scott walked along Mayo and Church streets, toward the old Century Hospital, he had been briefed on the facility and Bachman’s plight. As Scott and his entourage continued to walk down Church Street, just outside the boarded-up windows of Bachman’s research lab, Bachman grabbed the chance to plead his case and hand over a support petition.
At the time Bachman was served the cease and desist order by DEP, he was the only doctor in Century. A pediatrician has since located in Century.
Pictured above and below: The former Century Hospital on Mayo Street as seen Wednesday, January 25. Pictured above inset: Dr. Christian Bachman pleads his case with Gov. Rick Scott on the street outside the former Century Hospital.
Comments
30 Responses to “Embattled Doctor Wins Auction For Former Century Hospital Building”
So are they open as of 2019? If so I need to get in contact with Dr Bachman. Does anyone have a phone number that I could reach his office?
CONGRATS DR. B. am so glad that you’ve finally gotten that old hospital. They should have just given it to you. You’ve been the only doctor in Century for so long, and that little town needs you. I can’t imagine why the Escambia Health Dept. closed it’s doors, because there were a lot of folks using it. So no Clinic, no Wic, and no Dental. The Health Dept.. is a long way from Century and it was NEEDED there!! I hope you’re able to continue your practice and that the building won’t take too long to REPAIR and UPDATE. YOU will certainly be in my Prayers!!
After just getting home tonight from a week at Baptist Hospital you don’t appreciate what the medical community provides until you have a life threatening illness. Perhaps Pen Air or United Bank would oversee a fund for the good Doctor; I would certainly contribute.
Way to go I’m so glad he got it he deserves it for all the crap he went through karma is for real way to go DOC u have helped so many people and are a fantastic doctor welcome back
Congrats Dr.BacBachman I know u have gone through so much and after all u been thru u finally got blessed. I know you was there when nb wasn’t u deserve this God Bless.
“Most Stachybotrys (black mold, dhg) species inhabit materials rich in cellulose.” This is not what favors brick and mortar.
Lichen (not black mold) grow on rock, walls (as seen above) , gravestones, roofs, exposed soil surfaces, and in the soil. They are harmless but can be killed easily with dilute sodium hypochlorite.
David for bleach if needed
Someone could open a Kickstarter for help in the renovations, in his name. I would do it but do not know how but would certainly contribute. Or maybe one of the banks up there could start a fund.
CONGRATS
Glad to see the underdog won for once!
The black brick gives it character.
Why would town employees be pressure washing a privately owned building?
Yay go ahead now
Sure would be nice if the Century folks would help the doctor clean up that building, especially since he stuck his neck out to provide medical services for them.
I am impressed with Dr. bachman’s stength of character in this matter. He strikes me as a normal man of integrity. I wonder who is the real villain behind all of these unfair governmental orders.
It seems the good doctor’s heart and dedication to Century are in the right place.
If the community would come behind him with assistance and benefactors from the Pensacola area, this will be a win/win for all.
He can’t do it alone!
If we get a volunteer or town employees with a pressure washer on our “Renovated Hospital.”–
Would they please consider going over to our Post Office to pressure wash the sidewalk in front.?
That building also is a town center and a place all enter from time to time and many see from the road passing through–It has our name on the building!
For a few bucks, a little bit of time, A whole new fresh spring cleaning would be a real lift.
Congratulations!!
I believe the whole town is celebrating with you Doc.
Another Win for Century.
I would like to pass on, that I looked up the auction process on the DEP web site. It was a sealed bid with a 10% check, so from what I figure Doc did not know whether anyone was bidding against him. Some auctions on property, you can place a bid then a cap and an auto rebid.
This was not the case. I am sure he wished he could have known no one else would bid and got the lesser amount but it was a shot in the dark.
I think it is a testimony that he intended to get it and carry forward with his service to the town.
May his endeavors be blessed.
WAY TO GO DOC>>>>standing your ground….
Sounds like a good deal. How much is he going to need to invest to get it up to code? I would estimate well over $300k. A new sprinkler system for a building that size is going to run about $100k.
So happy for Century, the downfall of Century was when we lost the hospital! Praying it will bring back many jobs for our local friends and family of the great town of Century!!!! So happy for you Doc! !
God has spoken on this subject! Protecting people during the tornado and sending in the Governor and no one else showing up at the auction, wow! Now, can we schedule a pressure washing party for this building? Using the space for other businesses is a great idea too.
Now all you Century people need to back him and help him restore it. He’s been good to you now pay it back by joining in and helping
Way to go Doc!!
This is awesome. Dr. Bachman is a great doctor, and so happy he gets to own the building now. Century needs him, and it is obvious he likes Century.
Praise God!!!Dr.Bachman the battle is over,God has made His decision and shown you favor!Your acts of kindness over past years have not been overlooked,for we reap what we sow my good friend!I speak for mysrlf and others who agree in that you have been there when others were not,and served with a heart of compassion not greed.May God continue to finish in you what He has begun,bless you.
Congrats…long battle. Wishing you the best!!
Good luck Doc.
Not a bad deal for $21k. Someone seriously needs to get out there with a pressure washer though, that black mildew looks terrible.
Sure do hope he can clean it up and make it happen.
Congrats Dr B.