Aaron Thakker is expanding his ventures in hopes of bringing more treatment options for those struggling with substance abuse in Douglas County.
Thakker and David Hawley, an owner of Papa Keno’s in Lawrence, plan to make the Super 8 in Lawrence into a drug and alcohol inpatient treatment facility called Avalon Wellness and Recovery Center.
Thakker, who owns multiple businesses, will lead construction with his company, ATEC Services.
After having struggles during his own childhood, he saw the ways a positive influence can impact people’s lives, he said.
“That one positive adult got me out of a lot of trouble,” he said. “I realized ‘OK, well, there’s people out there that actually do care about you and do care about me,’ and so that veered me in a totally different direction.”
The experiences he had in his youth made him more passionate about what he can do to help adults who are struggling, and this center is a way to further that mission, he said.
He hopes the center can provide people with second chances, and more hope and positivity to their outlooks on life.
“We’re able to help these parents change their life before it gets worse, before it affects their kids or maybe is affecting their kids,” he said.
With many of the treatment offerings in the area filling up or having waitlists, the goal is to give people another option without having to travel far, he said.
Thakker has been involved with KVC, a nonprofit that works to prevent child abuse and focuses on mental health, Family Promise, which helps low-income families that may be experiencing homelessness, as well as other Eudora organizations.
Hawley had the idea about a year ago and called up his longtime friend Thakker, who he has known for years and worked with on charity events.
Hawley and Thakker also have other investors involved in the project and should have no problem financing the millions in renovations necessary, they said Wednesday.
Construction is slated to start April 1 with renovations to the front facade, a tall fence and front gate, landscaping and emergency vehicle accessibility. Thakker said construction should only take three or four months to complete.
There will be new exam rooms, a nurse’s station, a lobby expansion, and space for small and big group therapy sessions, as well as changes to the patient rooms.
The center will be able to provide treatment for about 60 patients, including rehabilitation services and 10 detox treatment beds.
Hawley, who’s been in recovery for 20 years, has an understanding of what patients need and what would yield the best results, he said. He hopes the facility will bring more options to insured patients in need of services.
“It’s like – I’ve been there, I felt that way, this is what happened, this is what I went through, and this is where I’m at today, and that gives them that like, ‘OK, there’s the template for this,’” Hawley said. “You want it to be a place that they are going to see themselves at, that they’re going to be comfortable, that they’re going to want to stay at.”
Hawley hopes the new center can work in collaboration with existing nonprofits in the area, like DCCCA, Bert Nash, Heartland and LMH. They hope to work with – not compete with – existing services and bring in more avenues for people to get treatment. They said they’ve already met with these organizations.
The center will be for-profit and preliminary cater to those with insurance or private sector pay, which differs from many services in the area. Hawley hopes to eventually look at ways to also get insured patients into the facility and expand to a nonprofit.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission has already recommended rezoning approval for the building to change from a motel to an in-patient treatment facility.
Once the Lawrence City Commission approves the rezoning, the motel would no longer be able to operate. The proposal won’t go to the commission until March, closer to when the sale of the property becomes final.
They hope to receive their small business loan approval before the commission meeting, Hawley said.
Once construction is moving, they will start with hiring a director, a step needed before they get their permit from the state. Conversations with possible employees have already begun, Hawley said. Paul Werner Architects is working alongside them on these plans.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]
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