Construction of Grand Rapids' $1.3M Eastown Veterinary Clinic closer to finish line

The former 5/3 Bank branch at the corner of Lake Drive SE and Carlton Avenue in Grand Rapids' Eastown is about to become one of the pet-friendliest properties in the neighborhood. Construction to transform the building into the $1.3M Eastown Veterinary Clinic began in February and the clinic could accept its first four-legged patients by mid-May.

Lynn Happel, DVM, purchased the property to fulfill a lifelong dream of founding her own veterinary practice. In addition, Dr. Happel, who has worked the last five and a half years at Cascade Hospital for Animals, looks to complete her training at the American Veterinary Dental College in the next few years and bring a board-certified veterinary dental specialty to the practice.

"There's not really another veterinary clinic in the nearby area, so this will provide a place for pet care within a walkable distance," Dr. Happel says. "Once I'm board certified (for veterinary dentistry), I will be able to draw from a much broader geographic region. Currently, there are only a few board-certified veterinary dentists in Michigan and they're all on the east side of state."

A 500-square-foot addition brings the clinic up to 3200 square feet, a space that will include three examination rooms, a pharmacy, a dog ward, a cat ward, an isolation area, a surgical suite and a laboratory. The former bank's vault with its one-foot-thick walls will become the radiology area.

"We're tearing up the parking lot and adding green space on the south and west sides of the building," Happel says. "Plus we added green features inside, like the high efficiency HVAC, low-flow plumbing, low-VOC paint and EnergyStar appliances."

The clinic will treat mainly cats and dogs, as well as "pocket pets" like guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, mice and rats. Hours will be Mon. and Weds. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tues., Thurs. and Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. to noon.

Source: Lynn Happel, DVM, Eastown Veterinary Clinic
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor