A long-standing animal hospital in Morton Grove has been approved to receive its first major makeover since opening its doors in 1957.
The Morton Grove Animal Hospital and Boarding Facility was granted permission by the Morton Grove Board of Trustees on Aug. 10 to move forward with a project to expand its current operation. What is now a two-lot, 4,600-square-foot building with two floors, will eventually become a four-lot, 6,040-square-foot structure that will remain two stories, as stated by the July 13 staff report.
Presently, the hospital only contains three exam rooms, limited parking and a small waiting space, the report read. Dr. Brian Harris, one of the owners, said the approval will increase the number of rooms to six and expand other areas the team believes is needed to continue providing “exceptional medical care.”
The plan, according to Dr. Harris, is to begin building on the other two lots while still working in the current hospital. That first phase will likely consist of a new waiting area, surgery space and multiple exam rooms. When completed, the second phase will begin, mainly focused on rebuilding the boarding space by adding an attached exercise area for the animals along with other modern amenities.
A combination of various feedback through surveys conducted by the team and an ample amount of planning led to the recent decision.
“Talking with our clients they felt the facility was starting to look old and a little rough around the edges,” he said. “We agreed.”
Initially a remodel of the current structure was considered, but after learning the property was “largely a cinder block” that would pose difficulty to move, “we decided the best option would be a full new build,” he said.
Morton Grove’s approval was a long time coming for Dr. Harris and his team who began planning nearly a year before hearing the positive news, he said.
“We had been talking with various village officials for 6-8 months, maybe a little bit longer just to get an idea of what they would be looking for,” he said, who owns the nearly 60-year-old location with his wife Dr. Kathryn Bertoglio-Harris.
The formal application process started in May, and they went through various meetings that took place on July 6 and 9 which involved the Appearance Commission and the Traffic Safety Commission respectively, he added.
“It was built primarily as a single doctor practice,” Dr. Harris said.
An original permit for the hospital was unable to be located within the village’s files, more likely due to its age, the staff report said.
While final plans still have to be drawn and approved, Dr. Harris said he believes the project’s duration will last no longer than around six months, though an official start date has not been determined.
“I anticipate in all reality it will be next spring,” he said. “I would love for it to be this fall. If they can get everything done…we can start in the fall, but it may not happen that fast.”
According to Dr. Harris, the cost to renovate the entire building is also undetermined although no additional money will be spent for the four-lot territory the owners already own. Plans to increase the staff after the renovation are still in discussion, he said.
Dr. Harris added he hopes the community will continue to support the facility during the remodeling process and will announce when the process is slated to begin.
“We’re here if they need us, and we have a very good, long-term dedicated staff and a very good, long-term dedicated client base as well,” he said. “We’re very thankful for them for over the years and we hope to meet a lot of new people along the way.”
Lindsey Compton is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
