Women’s agency to move, selling west-side center

Planned Parenthood plans to move after selling its health center near Camping World Stadium on Orlando’s west side to the not-for-profit LIFT Orlando for $1 million.

The sale is part of LIFT Orlando’s effort to acquire property around the stadium and revitalize the area with better housing, education and jobs. LIFT declined to identify specific uses for the Planned Parenthood property, but LIFT is eyeing an earlychildhood learning center and health-andwellness services.

So far, LIFT has secured millions in financing to build its centerpiece project, 200 apartments called Pendana at West Lakes, on Orange Center Boulevard west of Tampa Avenue. The goal is to mix renters from various income levels, in-

cluding some transitioning from homelessness.

Planned Parenthood plans to find a new, larger location in central Orlando soon, according to a statement from the local office.

“We have a health center in east Orlando and in Kissimmee, but the downtown location is critical,” spokeswoman Anna Eskamani said. “We definitely want to stay in the city, with access from all highways.”

Eskamani said the new location will need to provide room for administrative offices, clinical services and private parking. Planned Parenthood’s local branch has owned the 1.6-acre west-side property since 2003, according to county records.

“We are committed to serving the patients who rely on us for care and have no master plan yet in place for a new location. Our intention is to not disrupt patient services,” said Barbara Zdravecky, CEO for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.

The health center provides a range of services, including breast cancer screening, birth control, abortion and hormone replacement therapy for transgender people.

Demand for birth control in particular has grown since President Donald Trump was elected, fueled by fears that health benefits could be cut. Growth in the local agency’s services has also increased because of Orlando’s strong population growth and large college student population at University of Central Florida.

Nationally, the demand for IUDs, a form of longterm birth control, has tripled since the election.

“Women are looking for long-term birth control just in case their birth control benefit gets waived,” said “We are committed to serving the patients who rely on us for care and have no master plan yet in place for a new location. Our intention is to not disrupt patient services.” Barbara Zdravecky, CEO for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida Deana Rohlinger, professor of sociology at Florida State University.

“Abortion is at historically low numbers. One of the concerns is, if we make birth control inaccessible to women, that abortions will rise,” Rohlinger said. “Making birth control more acceptable and helping women and families to make reproductive decisions has really helped lower the number of abortions.”

Planned Parenthood has been targeted by abortion protesters at its Central Florida clinics. Rohlinger said conservatives often target Planned Parenthood for funding cuts because it is an abortion provider. But she said abortion is a small portion of the services Planned Parenthood provides.

Planned Parenthood of Central Florida reported $15.5 million in revenue in 2015, the latest year for which financial data were available. Of that, $5.2 million came from contributions or grants. Eskamani said grants and donations have grown in 2017.