Second Lahey Location Closing to ‘Accommodate Development’

60 Merrimack St., Haverhill.

Lahey Health Behavioral Services, 60 Merrimack St., is considering moving some services next door and closing others as it leaves “the building in stages to accommodate development plans.”

The company, which bears the name of famed Haverhill physician Frank Howard Lahey (1880-1953), operates medical offices in the building adjacent to the Harbor Place downtown development project.

“To assist with transitions for patients, Lahey is working with the adjacent landlord at 76 Merrimack Street for possible temporary relocation of some of its services,” according to a statement released Friday by Aine Greaney Ellrott, Lahey director of communications. “This fall, the non-profit behavioral health agency will close its mental health clinic at 60 Merrimack Street. However, the agency will continue to provide emergency psychiatric, outreach and adult day-treatment services within the city of Haverhill and the surrounding areas. Lahey will inform patients and residents of the new permanent locations for these services as soon as locations are identified,” the spokesperson said. Transfer of patients and staff of the counseling clinic is expected to be complete by November, 2015.

The 60 Merrimack Street building currently is an island between portions of the $68 million Harbor Place project. Developers purchased buildings both to the east and west of the building. Last December, city councilors also approved easements at the rear of the property to accommodate piling, access and utilities for Harbor Place. The city paid $10,000 in damages to current property owner D. R. Locke LLC, owned by Douglas R. and Patricia A. Locke of Boxford.

WHAV has placed calls to the Locke’s and Ronald Trombley of Greater Haverhill Foundation, part of the development coalition.

The Lahey operation is the second one in Haverhill to face closure in recent weeks. The company’s Lahey Health Primary Care of Haverhill, 233 Lincoln Ave., River’s Edge Plaza, closes in September.

Meanwhile, the downtown agency staff is working closely with patients to communicate options for ongoing treatment at one of Lahey’s other clinics in Lawrence or Beverly. For those patients who cannot travel, staff will provide a list of local providers and community resources.

For impacted employees, the administration seeks to identify other outpatient clinics or Lahey Health locations for qualified staff, Ellrott said.

One thought on “Second Lahey Location Closing to ‘Accommodate Development’

  1. Though the patients need treatment that was a bad location for this facility.
    Now that the collection agency is relocating I hope the city will take advantage of this opportunity to get this section of downtown cleaned up. Looking forward to the Harbor Towers…