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From the outside it looks the same as did three years ago. There is a gated driveway, posted no trespassing signs, and a nondescript building. Inside, the South Wind Women's Center is taking different shape.
"It just needed a little TLC, I guess," says clinic director Julie Burkhart during a tour with an Eyewitness News camera crew.
Safety and security have played significant roles in the decision to reopen this clinic and provide abortion services in Wichita for the first time since the murder of Dr. George Tiller in 2009.
"We will have a security company working for us after we open. We also have other security measures in place, just the typical things that businesses have these days," say Burkhart. She is reluctant to provide to many details because of concern about possible threats from anti-abortion activists in the community.
Burkhart says during the long process of reopening the clinic she's been scared at times. In recent weeks demonstrators have twice camped outside her home. She says her passion helping women make their own reproductive health decision outweighs any fear.
When the paint cans and buckets disappear, Burkhart envisions a clinic that's about much more than just abortions. She wants to offer pre-natal care, breast-feeding help and routine exams.
"We want to be here as a full spectrum medical facility that speaks to the needs of women no matter where they're at in their pregnancy."
Burkhart says the clinic will not perform abortions after 14 weeks.
Creating and staffing the clinic haven't been easy. It took time to find willing doctors. And Burkhart says some of the contractors have been harassed by abortion activists.
The South Wind Women's Center still doesn't have an official opening date. Burkhart will only say sometime this spring. Some women have already called the center to inquire about scheduling abortions, Burkhart says.