By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — The Graham County Rehabilitation Center (GCRC) is moving forward with a significant revitalization project in Downtown Safford, converting the long-vacant former medical complex and EA Computers building into seven rental suites for retail or office use.
The properties, prominently located right off Highway 70 on 5th Avenue, have been largely unoccupied since 2004. In a recent interview, GCRC Executive Director Layne Hegel detailed the scope of the organization’s work and its vision.
“We’re just turning [them] into rentals, you know. We’re just going to turn it into seven suites and rent them out,” Hegel said. “Whatever they want — just be retail or office space, whatever they want to rent them for.”
Hegel explained the extent of the purchase, which also includes the old Gila Cheer building and a vape shop building.
“So we bought that whole thing from the Raffs, so it’s actually the whole block except for the carpet place. And so we have some plans over the next several years. We want to do some kind of program in the old cheer building there, and the rest we’re just fixing up to turn into rentals.”
The property – reportedly purchased for $850,000, with the Dr. Rath estate carrying a portion of the purchase price – was in poor condition after years of neglect. Hegel described major structural and environmental challenges.
“It hasn’t been occupied for over 20 years, 2004,” he noted. “I don’t think you realize just how bad that building was… It had a weird little court in the back of it, there… There was actually a walk path between the buildings. It was a dirt path, and there were homeless people living back there… It was lower than the parking lot. And so, they had some real drainage problems.”
He continued, “Those drainage problems were so bad that one of the buildings had a basement under it. And the walls… started collapsing… It looks like one building, but it’s actually not. It was actually at least two buildings with about four or five add-ons connecting them, and so… there were like seven different roofs. And that was part of the drainage problems.”
The project involves a full overhaul: regrading and repaving the entire parking lot (which currently drains toward the buildings), unifying the structure by removing add-ons and installing single trusses, redirecting water flow, and addressing safety issues, including a rotting arch and unstable parapets.
“We’re redoing the whole thing… turning it into seven suites,” Hegel said. “Tore out all the different little buildings and just… making them into one building… Get rid of that little homeless encampment in the back there, and things like that. And I am going to redo the whole parking lot because it wasn’t drained properly.”
Timeline and Details
Hegel is optimistic about the schedule, with the four suites with 5th Avenue frontage targeted for completion by the end of summer.
“We’re hoping to have the medical building done… and the computer building… done by the end of the year. And then the other one on the end down there, where the vape is, we’re going to redo that one too. So, hoping pretty close to the end of the year, first part next year, those will all be done.”
He added that the full set of seven suites is set for completion by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The combined space totals approximately 8,000 square feet.
Renovations are being funded on a “pay as we go” basis as resources become available. GCRC is working with architects, structural engineers, and the City of Safford for approvals. Contractor Eagle Construction is leading the project, with area subcontractors supporting it in electrical, plumbing, and other trades.
The organization shared a before photo of the 5th Avenue buildings along with an AI-generated rendering of the planned clean, commercial-style facade. Hegel noted that deteriorating add-ons, including a non-original arch and false parapets, had to be removed for safety and structural reasons. Comments on social media regarding the arches’ removal were mostly negative.
GCRC’s Mission and Downtown Investments
The Graham County Rehabilitation Center is a private nonprofit founded in the late 1960s by local parents and citizens. It provides services for individuals with developmental disabilities and operates the GCRC Thrift Store, a recycling program, and other businesses to support its core mission.
Through property purchases in downtown Safford, GCRC has become a key player in local revitalization efforts. In a recent social media post, the organization stated: “Projects like this are part of GCRC’s continued commitment to restoring and reinvesting in downtown Safford. By bringing new life to historic and underused buildings, we’re helping create opportunities for local businesses, improve our downtown spaces, and strengthen the community for everyone.”
Community reactions to the project and rendering have been mixed, with some praising the investment in a neglected area and others expressing concern about preserving more of the original architectural character.
GCRC welcomes donations to support ongoing restoration work and notes that contributions may qualify for Arizona state tax credits.
The organization plans to provide further updates as construction progresses on this and future phases of its downtown holdings.
