Oman-Gibson Associates
Helping To Build the Perfect Behavioral Health Facilities

Finding the right facilities to support behavioral health services can feel like solving a complex puzzle with pieces that don’t fit. Traditional real estate companies often lack experience in the nuances of behavioral health and tend to select sites based on size, appearance, or amenities without fully understanding zoning requirements. This can lead developers down a rabbit hole as they try to obtain special permits or variances, turning a straightforward project into a complex and drawn-out ordeal.

This is where Oman-Gibson Associates (OGA) steps in as a game-changer. OGA is an award-winning, full-service healthcare real estate and development firm specializing in site selection, project management, acquisitions, and lease consultations for behavioral health facilities. Unlike typical real estate firms, OGA has spent over three decades refining its craft and understands the distinct challenges of behavioral health facility development. The firm examines varying zoning ordinances across different municipalities and leverages advanced real estate software, GIS, and public information systems to locate properties where behavioral health facilities can be developed without additional approvals.

“Our objective is to deliver functional and attractive facilities tailored to meet the distinct needs of our clients. We add significant value by accelerating speed to market and enabling them to save time and costs by avoiding the need to pour resources into projects that might not get approved,” says Charles Watkins, vice president of development.
A Development Partner That Ensures Growth

OGA’s comprehensive approach involves engaging with clients from the earliest stages—ideally from the inception of the idea. This early involvement allows the firm to guide clients through every stage of development to ensure that strategic objectives are met with skilled management, innovative solutions, and cost-effectiveness. By joining the project early, OGA helps clients avoid potential pitfalls, ultimately saving them time and money.

The team conducts an in-depth demographic analysis for clients and uses demographic databases to create heat maps that highlight areas with high concentrations of target patients.

With this data in hand, the team conducts a detailed site search and performs thorough evaluations of potential properties based on factors such as physical characteristics, zoning appropriateness, utility availability, topography, and overall site feasibility. Both on-market and off-market opportunities are explored through national reconnaissance, and adaptive reuse options are reviewed. These findings are compiled and presented to clients, offering a comprehensive overview of the costs involved, allowing them to make informed decisions.

OGA also uses phased indemnification for these due diligence expenses to mitigate risks, protecting clients from bearing the full financial impact of unforeseen issues, such as major environmental concerns. Unnecessary expenditures on design and engineering are avoided until the viability of the site is confirmed, safeguarding the investment and ensuring alignment with the project’s success.
“As a healthcare real estate developer, our core service is development. One of our goals is to find a developable site for our clients,” says Watkins.

Once project development is underway, OGA carefully manages schedules, selects and oversees the design team, and identifies the best project delivery methods. Additional tasks, such as contractor qualification, construction management, permitting assistance, and coordination with the owner’s operational teams, ensure the project stays on track.
OGA’s Partnership Model

OGA provides strategic planning for new or renewing leases, along with portfolio analysis for acquisitions and lease consulting. Its fair market valuation reports and property condition assessments ensure accurate capital planning, while lease administration services guarantee smooth transactions throughout the lease lifecycle.

By partnering with OGA, startups can effectively outsource their growth and facility development needs, allowing them to expand without the immediate need for internal resources. For many healthcare startups, securing funding and assembling an executive team is just the beginning. Their directive is to grow quickly and build new facilities, but they often lack an in-house development or project management team with experience in this area. As these companies grow and gain experience working with OGA, they can bring development and project management in-house, which can be more economical at scale. The firm sees this as a success.

“Our approach is simple. You focus on what you do best—treating patients—and, as experts in site search, development, and project management, we’ll handle your facility development and growth,” says Watkins.

Perfect Facility Development

The company’s impressive work is well illustrated in a recent project with a behavioral health company that wished to open a residential treatment center (RTC) for patients suffering from eating disorders. Typically, they would find residential properties and convert them into treatment centers. However, in Birmingham, Alabama, they faced significant challenges due to stringent regulations regarding multifamily residential properties and RTCs in single-family neighborhoods. After an extensive search, OGA identified a small office building outside the major metro area, located in a county with more flexible zoning laws. This building was well-suited for an adaptive reuse project and allowed OGA to convert the three-story office space into an RTC for inpatient behavioral health care. The client was highly satisfied with the outcome and now prioritizes similar office buildings for other projects.
This successful project underscores OGA’s extensive experience in development, project management, and acquisitions. It allows clients to concentrate on their primary objective of offering quality healthcare services to patients. OGA’s deep industry knowledge, combined with advanced technology and a proactive approach, ensures that projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet the critical needs of the communities they serve.

OGA recently opened an office in Dallas and is considering additional satellite locations in the future. At present, its focus is on steady, sustainable growth. The firm understands that there is a clear demand for healthcare developers and is actively planning to meet that need as it expands thoughtfully.