DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - It's been more than a year since Heritage Behavioral Health Center was given a new building by Sally Andreas. The building, located at 2800 N. Water Street was the former home of Hollywood Video, K's Merchandise and Schnuck's. 

In total, the property is approximately 130,000 square feet. This will allow the organization to move almost all operations to one location.

"We're almost doubling the size we have in downtown Decatur," said Mary Garrison, President and CEO of Heritage Behavioral Health Center. "The need is here. There is actually a healthcare desert for behavioral health here in this area."

Heritage is hosting several open house events for the community to learn more about Heritage's expansion plan and see the space before construction starts. Garrison and other staff members will walk people through floor plans and schedules for the multi-year renovation project. 

When they got access to the building, Garrison said the team assumed it would take multiple years to fundraise enough to start construction. But a nearly $44 million grant from the state of Illinois changed that. 

"The total on this project is estimated at $50 million," said Garrison. "We are excited to say we can actually start doing this much sooner than we anticipated." 

They plan to start construction on the west side of the building, where Hollywood video was. As construction is completed, Heritage staff will slowly move into their designated spaces in the building. 

Heritage is still in the middle of a legal battle with St. Teresa High School. The school is concerned for the safety of their students and say Heritage clients shouldn't be near a school. 

Garrison says there is too much of a stigma surrounding mental health treatment and it's important to allow clients to seek care. 

"Our clients are characterized in a way, that they highlight that they might be dangerous," said Garrison. "And so we're educating and people are coming on board that they're not dangerous, they're here to get services and we want them to get services." 

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