Local real estate developers Richard and Mimi Gunner and George Andros have given Community Medical Centers a Fresno office property valued at over $10 million. The property, located on East Shaw Avenue near Fresno State, will be used as a corporate office complex for about 500 Community employees.

The real estate transaction, which involves nearly 175,000 square feet of office space covering 17 acres, is one of the largest philanthropic gifts in Community Medical Centers’ history. It comes at a perfect time for Community, which has been looking for locations to consolidate corporate support offices — such as finance, communications, compliance, and human resources, currently scattered in offices  on Alluvial Avenue in Clovis, at the Shaw Avenue business office and at Community Health Center—Sierra.

“We are grateful to the Gunners and Mr. Andros for their generous philanthropy and their commitment to help this region’s biggest healthcare network continue growing for the future,” said Corporate CEO Tim Joslin. “Community has expanded dramatically in the last few years, and we need a central hub for support services and recruiting. This gift makes it possible.”

“When this transaction was originally discussed, it sounded like a great benefit to Community Medical Centers, and we were immediately in favor,” said Richard Gunner, partner, Gunner & Andros Investments.” George and I originally built these buildings and have operated them over the years. We are pleased that they will now be used to support Community’s efforts to provide quality healthcare for our community … We were able to finalize the gift last week and Community now owns the property. The entire Community team was great to work with in every phase.”

Katie Zenovich, Community’s vice president of corporate development, said, “This office complex won’t actually house clinical services. But make no mistake, it will be a system-wide hub that directly supports what happens on the front lines, including all medical programs vital to Community’s mission.”

Community will move departments into unoccupied spaces in the office complex over the next two years. About half of the complex is occupied by existing tenants, some of whom might stay for several years. Gunner & Andros will continue to serve as property manager on Community’s behalf.

Mary Lisa Russell reported this story. Reach her at MedWatchToday@CommunityMedical.org.