SJC and West Augustine Hold Health and Wellness Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
On Friday morning, St. Johns County joined the West Augustine Historical Community Development Corporation, the West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency, the Central Florida Community Development Corporation, and other partners for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of construction on the $8 million West Augustine Health and Wellness Center. The Office of Public Affairs made a video documenting the event.
The project has been a yearslong endeavor which will bring much-needed health care resources to the area’s residents. Sixteen speakers addressed the large crowd of attendees, each telling a different part of the long journey to seeing the health center begin construction at 938 W. King St. and the dedicated cooperation between local, County, and state governments necessary to make it happen.
“This is a demonstration and manifestation of what we can do when we come together… to meet the fundamental needs of our community,” St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews said.
Dwala Willis, co-chair of the West Augustine CRA Steering Committee, said it didn’t matter to the West Augustine community how long it took; they were determined to make the dream a reality.
“There is no expiration date on hope,” Willis said. “We continued to press on with purpose, and we pressed on with pride.”
Greg White, founder and president of the West Augustine Historical Community Development Corporation, spoke of how the saying “a rising tide lifts all boats” doesn’t apply when one boat has a hole in it; generations of redlining and underserving had left West Augustine with such a hole, but the health center will be a chance to fix it.
“Together, we are gonna patch that hole!” White said.
The West Augustine Health and Wellness Center is expected to open in October 2025.