Developer Jeff Young has purchased a former hospital and medical clinic at 1818 48th St. Photo courtesy of Polk County assessor

A vacant medical building on Des Moines’ west side has been sold to a developer who plans to add a second floor to the structure for condominiums.

Developer Jeff Young on Friday bought the property at 1818 48th St. from Hubbell Realty Co. for $525,000. Both parties confirmed the completion of the transaction. Young previously had a contract to buy the property.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d own a hospital,” Young said.

The nearly 60,000-square-foot, one-story building, built around 1980, was a community hospital for several years before being acquired by Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines, which used the facility for adult and pediatric psychiatric care. 

Hubbell bought the property in 2016 for $280,000 from Catholic Health Initiatives-Iowa Corp., Polk County assessor records show. Hubbell had considered different uses for the building, including apartments for older adults and townhouses, but decided not to redevelop the tract in part because of the expense of razing the medical building, a company spokeswoman said previously.

The facility has been vacant since 2014 when it closed. 

The land and building are valued at $299,000, Polk County Assessor’s Office records show.

Young is contemplating adding a second story to the building for about 30 condos. “We believe the roof is stout enough that it can become a floor for the second story,” he said. 

The first floor would be converted to office and commercial space, he said.

Young said it will take about a year to prepare plans for redevelopment of the building. In the meantime, work continues at the former Franklin Junior High School, which Young is transforming into an event center and hotel. The $8 million project also will include a microbrewery and restaurant.

The former school is just north of the 1818 48th St. property, which includes about 160 parking spaces. Young said he plans on making the parking available to patrons of the Franklin project.