[DetroitMan]

Long story, but a good read..


After years of mystery, Saginaw’s ‘medical diamond’ is taking shape: Here’s what we know.

One of the earliest developments announced as part of the “medical diamond” project involved plans to create a behavioral health clinic in Saginaw.

In late 2022, both the Saginaw City Council and Saginaw County Board of Commissioners voted to invest $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funds apiece to the projected $15 million development, although county leaders later re-directed its share of the investment (the reason for that move was explained by county officials in a separate presentation).

Other elements of the behavioral health clinic initiative evolved in the last four years as well, officials revealed during the council strategy session.

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, a Saginaw-based health care agency with locations across the region, took the lead in developing the behavioral health center concept, which now has an official name and illustrated renderings for the building planned in the downtown district.

Brenda Coughlin, president and CEO of the agency, said in her presentation to the city council the planned development — now known as Great Lakes Bay Health Centers Behavioral Health Center of Excellence — would be housed in a three-story, 15,000-square-foot facility. Early maps for the development show it residing on real estate tucked between South Washington Avenue and South Water, north of Thompson Street, and south of the historic, eight-story Michigan Bell Building that now serves as a location for AT&T.

The center would be located within a proposed $35 million mixed-use real estate development owned by Shaheen Development, which purchased the real estate from the city in July 2025.

The acquisition of some of the parcels there — including property under the umbrella of the Saginaw County Land Bank — remains ongoing, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers officials said.

Plans for the behavioral health center include child and adolescent fellowship clinics, adult behavioral residency clinics, 30 exam rooms, primary care services, lab services, a pharmacy, and both occupational and physical therapy spaces, Coughlin told the council.

The center would provide training for students studying in health care fields from both SVSU and CMU, agency officials said.

“Our vision is to transform behavioral health care and access in Saginaw and our region,” Coughlin told the council.

While no projected opening date was announced, agency officials said they anticipated scheduling a groundbreaking ceremony in fall 2026.

https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-b...t-we-know.html