The Burien branch of Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers is closing – as of Wednesday, March 15, 2017 – according to an announcement on the company’s Facebook page.

First established in 1983, this family owned and operated company was started by Chuck Kester, who dedicated the majority of his life to helping alcoholics and addicts in need. Vester ran King County’s public alcohol and drug programs for 15 years, then started Lakeside-Milam as a private business.

What will become of this building or land is unknown as of now.

According to our friends at the Highline Historical Society (thanks Nancy, Cyndi, Katherine and Jeanie!):

• The building was built in 1954 – Dr. Vernon D. Clausing founded the Standing Memorial Osteo Hospital, which was the same hospital in the 1970s.
• By the mid 1980s it turned into the Shorewood Osteopathic Hospital (which closed in 1987): http://www.highlinetimes.com/obituary/18694/dr-vernon-d-clausing
• Another doctor was one of the founders as well – Eugene Hunt: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?n=eugene-smith-hunt&pid=2365849

Patients 18 years old and over in need of detox and residential care will now be treated at the company’s Kirkland campus.

“We will no longer be Providing Adolescent Inpatient care or operating at our Burien location,” the company said. “Young adult specific care will be delivered on the Kirkland campus.”

Here’s the full announcement about the closing:

Dear Friends of Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers,

Founded in 1983, Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers has a history of excellence in patient care and putting families back together again. We also have earned a leadership position in the addiction field through ethical and sustainable business practices. Part of our mission is a commitment to ensure our ability to deliver the best care available, today and in the future. As part of our long range planning, Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers has consolidated our inpatient operations on one campus.

As of March 15th patients 18 years old and over in need of detox and residential care will be treated on our Kirkland campus. We will no longer be providing adolescent inpatient care or operating at our Burien location. Young adult specific care will be delivered on the Kirkland campus. We will continue to offer our complete continuum of care with detox and residential services in Kirkland and outpatient care in our nine outpatient treatment centers throughout the Puget Sound area. Our outpatient network will continue to provide treatment for adolescents in need of care.

We appreciate the community relationships we have and look to strengthen them. We believe collaboration is essential to enhance the effectiveness of treatment for those in need. If you have questions regarding our transition please ask us. Whether you contact me or another LMRC team member, we would love to hear from you. Operating over four decades has taught us that change is a constant and communication is the best way to navigate it successfully.

Carl Kester, President

Also of note – “apparitions of a young boy have been reported at this location,” according to numerous paranormal websites.

Lakeside-Milam is (or rather, was) located at 12845 Ambaum Blvd SW (it’s already listed as “closed” on both Google and Yelp):