
May 31, 2024 – Heritage Behavioral Health Center has announced its plans to expand its services at a new location in the former Northgate Mall.
Heritage’s Board of Directors announced that they accepting the donation of the building from Sally Andreas to allow for the expansion of services at 2800 N. Water Street, Decatur, IL. Heritage is currently located on Main (51 South) in downtown Decatur.
“My late husband Mick and I have always thought of Heritage with a soft spot,” Andreas said. “We are just so proud to be able to contribute to the expansion of Heritage so that they can do what they do best, help people.”
The move by Heritage has been rumored since September of last year, drawing concerns from the location’s neighbor, St. Teresa High School. After being made aware of the possibility of Heritage relocating next to their campus last year, St. Teresa Executive Director, Dr. Ken Hendriksen released a statement on behalf of the school, voicing their concerns.
“Our number one priority is the safety, security, and well-being of St. Teresa’s students, families, and community members. Moving this facility in our backyard would pose serious, known, and unknown, risks,” the statement read.
After the statement was released, The City of Decatur received what it called “numerous letters and emails in an effort to cancel the proposed project.” The city issued its own release stating that it was unlikely that the Decatur City Council will be required to take any formal action approving or disapproving the possible redevelopment project.
“This is bigger than Heritage, this is about our community. We are committed to providing access to mental health, substance use and primary care services to all” says Mary Garrison, Heritage’s President and CEO. “Mental health and substance use diagnoses do not discriminate; any of us can be impacted no matter our age, gender, or socio-economic status.”
Heritage serves over 7,000 clients and their families each year and employs over 350 staff at 11 locations throughout Macon and DeWitt counties.