Planned Parenthood is ready to begin construction of their new Comprehensive Reproductive Health Center, which will be built on North Stoughton Road in Madison.

According to Planned Parenthood regional director Deborah Hobbins, the new facility will cost around $1.8 million to build and might be finished by 2004.

Because of the high cost Hobbins said outside donations were appreciated.

“We received $1.5 million in support from national and local foundations as well as lots of individual contributions,” said Hobbins.

The center will provide services including birth control, family planning, breast exams, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and counseling, as well as medical and surgical abortions, Hobbins said.

“It’s important to emphasize that it is a comprehensive health center, not a standard abortion center,” Hobbins said. “By offering many services we hope to reduce the number of abortions.”

Planned Parenthood chose the site because they needed a location that was easily accessible, Hobbins said. The site was chosen because it is one of the few available sites easily accessible in Madison and can be reached by car, bus or foot for many people.

The center will be designed and built by architect John Myer along with Marshall Erdman and Associates, Hobbins said. Myer and the firm specialize in building health centers.

The current abortion clinic requires replacing because Dr. Dennis Christensen, who is currently the only doctor who practices abortion in South Central Wisconsin, has lost his facility. Meriter Hospital owns the 309 W. Washington Ave. clinic and decided not to renew the 2003 lease, so all of the building’s tenants were forced to look for new facilities, Hobbins said.

According to Hobbins, another physician will be brought on board to perform abortions.

The University of Wisconsin’s medical school will also use the center to train new doctors, Hobbins said.

“We received $183,000 from the Kenneth J. Ryan Reproductive Residency training grant. This will allow training in abortion procedures for medical professionals,” Hobbins said.

Hobbins said she has not noticed any opposition to the new center, but Pro-Life Wisconsin State Director Peggy Hamill said her group is opposed to the center.

“Pro-Life is very much opposed to the center and disturbed that UW-Madison is involved with the facility,” Hamill said.

According to Hamill, Pro-Life members feel that Planned Parenthood is a threat to the health and welfare of the women and unborn babies in Wisconsin. They also feel that Planned Parenthood propagates promiscuous behavior and then takes credit for having the resources to help the people in need, Hamill said.

A new legislative bill, called the “bubble zone” bill, would create an eight-foot buffer zone around any person entering or exiting health care facilities in Wisconsin and is backed by Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, and Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison. Hamill said Pro-Life is against this bill and has vowed not to let it pass.

“It is still another attempt to silence pro-life speech. It is clear and truthful information that should be available to the mother and baby about alternatives. It could be life saving,” Hamill said.

According to Hamill the money that was used to help build the center should be used on more useful solutions to the problem of sexual activity, such as teaching abstinence in schools.

Hobbins said the center is important and will help women by providing an array of services.

“You prevent abortion by providing all the care women need to manage their sexual health,” said Hobbins.