December 23, 200618 yr From the 12/21/06 Springfield News-Sun: Surgeons defend plan for hospital They dispute charges that their facility would siphon funds from Community Mercy Health Partners and ruin its plan to build a new hospital. By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Thursday, December 21, 2006 Local physicians continue their quest to open their own surgical hospital despite local and state efforts to squelch their plans. On Wednesday, the surgeons met with U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, who has voiced strong opposition to the plans. In a statement, Hobson said he sensed a willingness on behalf of the surgeons to do what's in the best interest of the community. Hobson said he encouraged them to "work to satisfy their interests and those of the hospital." He said he would help the physicians to that end. State legislation passed last week banning such specialty hospitals for 90 days to allow further study. If not vetoed by the governor by Dec. 26, the moratorium will go into effect in February. That legislation "was highly discriminatory " said Springfield physician Joseph Cromwell. "If a $20 million business wanted to open up in Springfield, would it encounter this many roadblocks?" Those roadblocks prevent healthy competition and brings into question anti-trust laws, he said. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/20/sns122106surgeons.html
February 10, 200718 yr From the 12/25/06 Dayton Business Journal: Legislators to tackle specialty hospital issue Dayton Business Journal - December 22, 2006 by Tracy Kershaw-Staley DBJ Staff Reporter The battle over specialty hospitals is heating up again. Local health care leaders testified at recent state hearings on bills that would regulate specialty hospitals, requiring them to operate 24-hour emergency rooms to pick up a share of patients who cannot afford to pay for hospital services. While the session closed with those bills still pending, the General Assembly approved a 90-day moratorium on specialty hospital construction in Springfield, where a potential physician-invested project drew the ire of community hospital leaders. Among the local leaders speaking out in Columbus was Jim Pancoast, who said Good Samaritan Hospital expects to lose $7 million next year to a competing specialty hospital. The $7 million is Good Samaritan's profit margin -- money spent on indigent care and hospital investments in new technology and renovations, said Pancoast, Good Samaritan's chief executive officer. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2006/12/25/story6.html
February 10, 200718 yr From the 12/30/06 Springfield News-Sun: Governor signs bill putting moratorium on specialty hospitals By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Saturday, December 30, 2006 A moratorium on the creation of specialty hospitals in Clark County will begin March 29. The moratorium was inserted into Substitute Senate Bill 116 that Governor Bob Taft signed into law on Friday. The bill prohibits discrimination in the treatment of mental illness and prohibits "for ninety days, the establishment of special hospitals in counties with a population of more than 140,000 but less than 150,000." Ohio Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, introduced the moratorium specifically to address a movement by local physicians to create a surgical hospital in Springfield. Opponents of the surgeons' plans, specifically officials from Community Mercy Health Partners, said it would siphon Community-Mercy's main source of income — surgeries — creating a deficit that could not sustain the hospital's planned $300 million hospital to be built downtown. Proponents say competition would improve the quality of care. They added giving patients a choice would reduce the number of people who leave the county for their health care. A national ban on specialty hospitals expired in August. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/29/sns123006hospitalbill.html
February 10, 200718 yr From the 1/17/07 Springfield News-Sun: City's heart could be greener, attractive Green spaces and a nice blend of architecture highlight the city's downtown unified plan. By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Wednesday, January 17, 2007 A downtown unified plan could blend requirements and strong recommendations for development. Heather Whitmore, planning and zoning administrator, updated Springfield city commissioners on the plan Tuesday night. The unified plan could include requirements such as rear parking and recommendations for design and exterior building materials. Downtown developments would be reviewed case-by-case; those that significantly deviate from the plan would go through a review process. "What we're trying to do is create an environment that is attractive," said Whitmore, who is in the process of writing the plan. The plan will go to the City Planning Board in February or March, then the CEDA Planning Board before coming to commissioners. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/16/sns011707citycommission.html
February 10, 200718 yr From the 2/2/07 Springfield News-Sun: Speaker encourages preserving, restoring downtown By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Friday, February 02, 2007 The latest movement in development is new urbanism. To Mayor Joseph Riley Jr. of Charleston, S.C., that's what Springfield already has. "What you have here is what every new development is trying to achieve — a sense of place, a sense of scale, liveability, housing relatively affordable, with texture and history," he said. Preserving and restoring that is hard work, Riley said at the Center City Association's annual meeting Thursday. Riley has been mayor of Charleston since 1975. In that time he has worked to build a waterfront park, create attractive affordable housing and revitalize the historic downtown. "There's lots of controversies and easy frustrations and things don't happen overnight," he said. Riley urged cities to keep the bulldozer out and save historic structures. He showed several examples of where the city refused to let a historic building be razed and instead restored it. That spurred other private development nearby. "It's the history, it's the memories," Riley said. "Every time you take it away, it's forever gone." MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/01/sns020207centercity.html
February 10, 200718 yr From the 2/5/07 Springfield News-Sun: Future hospital is sign of renewal City erects signs to remind residents why houses in the downtown project area are boarded up. By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Monday, February 05, 2007 Large signs in the urban renewal area proclaim the city of Springfield's intentions for downtown. The project is "Redevelopment for Our Future," the signs say. The city erected three signs more than a week ago, two on North Plum Street and one on North Street. The signs say the urban renewal project is a partnership between the city and Community Mercy Health Partners. As part of the urban renewal project, the city is buying property in about 45 acres downtown near Buck Creek to make way for a new hospital. Nearly 80 percent of the property in phase one and more than half in the entire hospital area is owned by the city. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/04/sns020507hospitalsigns.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 2/15/07 Springfield News-Sun: Hospital, surgeons agree to work together Thursday, February 15, 2007 The president of the city's hospital and the leader of a surgeon's group agreed to work together to allow a community hospital and a surgical hospital to coexist downtown. Community Mercy Health Partners Regional President and CEO, George Miller Jr. and Springfield surgeon Dr. Richard Nedelman met late Wednesday to discuss both parties' plans to build new hospitals and the possible impact on Community Mercy's proposed $300 million complex planned to open in 2011. Both men described the meeting as "very positive." Nedelman said the surgeons have agreed to build downtown. He and Miller discussed how the specialty hospital could help take some of the sting out of the perceived financial loss Community Mercy could have from lost business. Miller had said the proposed specialty hospital could hurt Community Mercy's bottom line and thus its ability to serve the less fortunate because it would take away Community Mercy's primary source of revenue — surgeries. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/15/sns021507hospitalweb.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 2/16/07 Springfield News-Sun: Surgeons can pursue specialty hospital idea despite moratorium By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Thursday, February 15, 2007 When state lawmakers introduced a 90-day moratorium on the creation of specialty hospitals it was not intended to stop a local surgeon's group from pursuing the idea, said state Sen. Steve Austria. "(It was) to give everyone a chance to have some breathing room," the Beavercreek Republican said. After learning the leaders of both Community Hospital and the surgeon's group worked out an agreement, Austria said the moratorium appears to be serving that purpose. "It appears that both sides are working together in hopes of doing what's in the best interest of the residents and patients, to provide them the best health care," Austria said. Community Mercy's president and the leader of the surgeon's group sat down Wednesday to work on a plan to put the surgical hospital near Community Mercy's new campus. They also discussed ways Community Mercy could recover some of the revenue it expects to lose to the surgeon's group. The moratorium expires June 15. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/15/sns021607moratorium.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 2/17/07 Springfield News-Sun: City to use eminent domain for hospital City and Calcars, 202 W. North St., cannot agree on a sale price for Calcars' property. The city has offered $224,000. By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Friday, February 16, 2007 The city of Springfield took the first step toward the first true eminent domain case involving the planned Community Mercy downtown hospital. City commissioners approved Tuesday an ordinance declaring an intent to use eminent domain to acquire the Calcars property, 202 W. North St. The next step is to pass an ordinance authorizing the city's lawyers to file the case in court. The case probably will be filed in Clark County Common Pleas Court in 30 days, Deputy Law Director Andrew Burkholder said. "It's really a disagreement over price," he said. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/15/sns021707citycommission.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/7/07 Springfield News-Sun: City: Fliers sent to downtown neighborhoods not true By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Tuesday, March 06, 2007 The city of Springfield is interested in the opinions of residents west of the hospital redevelopment area, but not their homes. Residents west of Yellow Springs Street received fliers this week about the hospital project, similar to ones passed out in January. "The city is tearing down ALL the houses east of Yellow Springs and north of Columbia St., all the way to the creek. That means YOUR neighborhood WEST of Yellow Springs Street COULD BE NEXT!" the flier says. That's not true, City Manager Matt Kridler said. The hospital redevelopment plan doesn't extend west of Yellow Springs Street and the city's proposed downtown unified plan shows that area as residential. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/06/sns030707fliers.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/9/07 Springfield News-Sun: Surgeons group's change of heart has officials concerned Could dissatisfaction with a downtown site place Community Mercy's plans in jeopardy? By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Friday, March 09, 2007 The possibility a group of surgeons could build a medical campus in Enon concerns Springfield officials and others who had sought a hospital campus for downtown. The surgeons group is reconsidering its decision, announced just two weeks ago, that it would attempt to build in downtown Springfield. It's unclear how the decision to build a surgical hospital in Enon will affect Community Mercy Health Partners' plans for a health care complex in downtown Springfield, said George Miller Jr., Community Mercy's regional president. The surgeons' decision to reconsider does not sit well with him, he said. The surgeons' plan calls for a 15- to 20-bed surgical hospital when they decide on a location. The 35-acre tract in Enon is located near Speedway Drive, south of the EMRO/Speedway headquarters. The site is one of several the surgeons are considering, the group said Thursday. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/08/sns030907hospitalinside.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/11/07 Springfield News-Sun: Private hospital company hasn't ruled out downtown site But Prexus Health Partners says it has other sites under consideration. By John Nolan Staff Writer Sunday, March 11, 2007 The head of a company that wants to build and operate what he described as a multi-specialty surgical hospital said he is working with city leaders and is open to locating the facility in downtown Springfield. Dr. Ajay K. Mangal said, however, that physician-owned Prexus Health Partners wants to move quickly on selecting a site and would consider other locations if agreement cannot be reached on a downtown site in the city. He said Prexus wants a site of 15 to 20 acres on which to establish a medical campus and also would consider a site at Enon or others that Mangal declined to disclose. Mangal, the president and chief executive officer of Prexus, said 37 Springfield-area physicians involved in the proposed hospital project are to vote March 18 on how to proceed. Prexus wants to select a site and make progress before a moratorium that the Ohio General Assembly approved takes effect March 28. "We can purchase land between now and March 28," Mangal said. "It's our hope that we will be able to consummate a deal with the city prior to that." MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/11/sns01107prexus.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/13/07 Springfield News-Sun: Planning Board approves unified downtown plan The plan unites development ideas and includes an annual review. By Samantha Sommer Staff writer Tuesday, March 13, 2007 The Springfield City Planning Board unanimously approved a unified downtown plan and some related zoning Tuesday night. It now heads to the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement planning board and city commission. "The unified planning process is probably one of the largest and most creative planning processes Springfield has gone through in a long time," said Heather Whitmore, planning and zoning administrator. The plan includes uniting other downtown development ideas into one, economic development incentives, land use maps and an annual review to see how it's working. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/12/sns031307planningboard.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/16/07 Springfield News-Sun: Forum leaves more questions than it answers about hospitals Surgeons are a no-show before standing-room-only crowd. By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Friday, March 16, 2007 There are two sides to every story, but only one side of the surgical hospital debate was heard Thursday. A public forum Thursday was supposed to bring together surgeons seeking to open a surgical hospital and Springfield community leaders hoping to bring that facility downtown. But it was minus the surgeons after the group's spokesman, Dr. Richard Nedelman, fell ill and was unable to attend the event, according to organizers. The standing-room-only crowd in City Hall forum, most of whom came for a debate, stayed anyway. The event turned into an informational session into why the county's hospital system — Community Mercy Health Partners — and officials with the city, county and state oppose the surgeons building a surgical hospital out of town. George Miller, regional president and CEO of Community Mercy Health Partners, said delays in building its proposed downtown hospital campus have raised the project's costs from $240 million to $373 million. Some of the delays have come because Community Mercy needs to wait to see where the surgeons build their facility. The surgeons appeared to have few allies in the audience. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/16/sns031607hospitalweb.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/18/07 Springfield News-Sun: Hospital decision delayed City to present downtown site possiblities By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Sunday, March 18, 2007 A group of local surgeons considering building its own surgical hospital in Clark County is postponing its decision on where to locate the campus. The group was scheduled to meet today to choose a site. But Dr. Richard Nedelman, spokesman for the surgeons, said the group is rescheduling its vote to allow Springfield officials to present possible downtown locations. The surgeons are considering building a 15-to-20 bed specialty hospital and have looked at a location near Enon, among other sites. Springfield City Manager Matt Kridler expected to make a proposal to the surgeons this weekend. While he did not identify the exact blocks, Kridler said they would push for a downtown site. It would include part of the expansion area for Community Mercy Health Partners' new health care complex. The expansion area is just south of the hospitals' core site, near Plum and North streets. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/17/sns031807surgerycenter.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/20/07 Springfield News-Sun: City presents several sites for downtown specialty hospital By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Monday, March 19, 2007 A surgeons group heard a presentation by city officials on three possible downtown sites for a proposed surgical hospital and have asked the city to look into two more. City Manager Matt Kridler met with a representative group of the about 40 surgeons who plan to open their own specialty hospital in Clark County. The city is hoping the surgeons will choose to build their proposed 15 to 20 bed hospital downtown. The surgeons have asked the city for 10 contiguous acres and a commitment of five more. The surgeons also are considering several sites including 35 acres near Enon. The three downtown sites presented include an area on Community Mercy Health Partner's future hospital campus, just west of the Springfield Regional Cancer Center; the site of the former Haucke Building, located on West Main between Plum and Lowry streets; and an area of West Columbia Street between Yellow Springs and Plum streets. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/19/sns032007surgicalhospital.html
May 15, 200718 yr Link contains a photo. From the 3/23/07 Springfield News-Sun: Residents raise questions regarding area purchased for hospital construction By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Friday, March 23, 2007 Michael Hosier wants to know why the city hasn't begun razing buildings it owns in the hospital redevelopment area. "What is taking so long for those eyesores to be done and to be taken out?" he asked at a meeting at City Hall on Thursday night. The city is in the midst of a federal environmental review process, City Manager Matt Kridler said. The meeting, as part of that process, was to discuss the area potentially affected by the hospital project. The city is buying property in about 45 acres downtown to make way for the hospital. The preliminary area designated as potentially affected includes the hospital core area, the urban renewal area south of that and some areas north of Buck Creek and west of Yellow Springs Street. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/22/sns032307hospitalmeeting.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/27/07 Springfield News-Sun: Surgeons eye future site of downtown ice rink By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Monday, March 26, 2007 The site of Springfield's proposed indoor ice skating rink is the latest site eyed by local surgeons looking to build their own hospital. City officials, on Friday, presented to the surgeons cost and acquisition estimates for that site. The presentation does not guarantee they'd get the land, said City Manager Matt Kridler. It would be up to the land's owner, National Trails Recreation and Park District, to decide if it is willing to sell the land and find a new home for the promised ice skating rink. The developer for the surgeons group said they want to have a letter of intent signed by Wednesday. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/26/sns032707icerink.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 3/29/07 Springfield News-Sun: Future ice arena site is preferred location for surgical hospital By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Wednesday, March 28, 2007 It will be at least two weeks before the city will know if a portion of West Main Street will house an ice arena or a surgical hospital. That is when the city plans to bring a final proposal for 6.5 downtown acres to local surgeons who plan to build a multi-specialty hospital in Springfield. The downtown property, currently planned for a family ice arena, is the surgeons preferred site, said Dr. Ajay Mangal, president and CEO of developer Prexus Health Partners. He said the nearly 40 local surgeons are waiting for the city and the land's owner, National Trail Parks and Recreation District, to address some issues about 116-120 W. Main Street. That land, plus a portion of the block just east makes up 6.5 acres. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/28/sns032907hospital.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 4/1/07 Springfield News-Sun: Hospital uncertain about planning Community Mercy CEO George Miller says he doesn't know if the private surgical hospital will cooperate or compete with his new facility. By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Sunday, April 01, 2007 City leaders are pleased a surgeons group has focused on downtown for its private hospital. Community Mercy Health Partners officials, however, are less than thrilled. "It really depends on what services they offer ... if we're competing or cooperating," said Community Mercy's regional president and CEO George Miller Jr. Miller had hoped the surgeons would accept Community Mercy's offer of five acres on the campus of its future $373 million downtown hospital. Instead, the surgeons have set their sights on West Main Street where National Trail Parks and Recreation District had planned an ice arena. "We could have had better synergy (if on the same campus)," Miller said. With the surgical hospital likely off-site, Community Mercy must now wait to see if the surgeons plan to share resources, such as Community Mercy's imaging and labs, and if the surgical hospital's overnight beds will empty those at Community Mercy. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/31/sns040107moratorium.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 4/2/07 Springfield News-Sun: Parks district to decide on selling land National Trail board being asked to let surgeons buy their land that had been planned for an ice rink. By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Sunday, April 01, 2007 National Trail Parks and Recreation District is expected to decide this month if it is willing to sell downtown property to a surgeons group. But with a 90-day moratorium in effect, it is not clear when the surgeons can purchase land for their proposed $14 million to 15 million surgical hospital. The moratorium, introduced by state Rep. Ross McGregor, prohibits the "establishment, development or construction" of a surgical hospital for 90 days beginning March 28. McGregor introduced the legislation to give officials time to research the potential impact such a hospital would have on Community Mercy Health Partners recent merger and plans to combine its two hospitals into one campus downtown. Just as the moratorium went into effect the surgeons, at the urging of community leaders, said they would work to put their hospital downtown. The group's top pick is West Main Street, where National Trail planned to put an ice arena. The site is 6.5 acres and would accommodate the two-story, 40,000-square-foot project. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/01/sns040207moratorium2.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 4/6/07 Springfield News-Sun: Downtown unified plans passed by regional planning commission By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Thursday, April 05, 2007 The downtown unified plan is a step closer to becoming a reality. The Cooperative Economic Development Agreement Regional Planning Commission approved the plan at its meeting Thursday afternoon. The Springfield Planning Board approved the unified plan last month. It next heads to the Springfield City Commission on May 1. The plan sets several goals, including promoting pedestrian activity, providing guidance to the private market and preserving historic buildings. It also contains required and recommended design standards. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/05/sns040607cedaboard.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 4/10/07 Springfield News-Sun: No decision made on ice arena land By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Monday, April 09, 2007 The National Trail Park and Recreation District Board of Trustees took no action Monday concerning the possible sale of downtown property to a surgeons' group. Parks district president Tim Smith said the board is cooperating with the city "working towards keeping the integrity of the downtown revitalization plan," but had more work to do before voting on the measure. The board met in executive session for one hour before returning to the meeting with no vote. The surgeons, working with developer Prexus Health Partners, announced in December they planned to build a surgical hospital in Clark County. The group was considering several sites when city officials urged them to choose downtown. After rejecting the city's suggested sites, including land on Community Mercy Health Partner's new hospital campus, the surgeons asked about the park district's downtown property earmarked for the ice arena. The city presented the information, noting the parks district owned the land. The board's next scheduled meeting is May 14. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/09/sns041007park.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 5/2/07 Springfield News-Sun: Unified plan requires some rezoning for downtown Springfield City commissioners likely will vote on the plan May 15. It is seen as a guide for downtown revitalization. By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Wednesday, May 02, 2007 A unified plan for downtown Springfield could guide revitalization, planners say. City commissioners held a public hearing and first reading Tuesday on the plan and rezonings, and they likely will vote May 15. The unified plan is flexible, said Heather Whitmore, city planning and zoning administrator. "It's a way that encourages the market to perform at its best," she said. Commissioners also reviewed several proposed rezonings to fulfill the plan. Those include placing a unified plan overlay district over downtown, rezoning a number of properties to mixed-use Neighborhood Commercial District 2, and rezoning the residential area west of Yellow Springs Street to a different residential district that conforms to the actual uses there. No properties are being down-zoned or losing property use rights, Whitmore said. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/01/sns050207citycom.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 5/3/07 Springfield News-Sun: Hospital meeting called 'uplifting' Talks apparently reduced some of the rancor over a proposed surgical specialty hospital. By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Thursday, May 03, 2007 More than 70 local physicians met Tuesday to plot a course for a merged physician staff and clear the air surrounding a proposed surgical specialty hospital. Dr. Michael McKee, a Community Mercy Health Partners board member, said the meeting was to help create a dialogue among the physicians who have endured "a long struggle" of negativity. In addition to the controversy over the proposed surgical hospital, Community Mercy lost $20 million last year and the latest estimate for its own hospital construction project is about $130 million over budget. Tuesday's meeting, however, was "very uplifting," said Dr. Richard Nedelman, one of the surgeons planning to build the specialty hospital. But the surgical hospital did come up, he said. Most physicians wanted to know if the surgical hospital would infringe on Community Mercy's business and its ability to serve the community. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/02/sns050307docs.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 5/4/07 Springfield News-Sun: Consolidation, renaming proposed for hospitals Community would become Springfield Regional and Mercy would focus on heart patients and pediactrics as Springfield Regional Heart Hospital Friday, May 04, 2007 By Kelly Baker, Staff Writer Both Springfield hospitals may undergo more changes with Community Hospital becoming the city's sole full-service medical facility and Mercy Medical Center focusing on heart patients and children, officials announced Thursday. The hospitals also will be renamed under the plan. But the changes only will occur if the Community Hospital Health Services Foundation board approves changes Community Mercy Health Partner's Board of Trustees recently made, Community Mercy president George Miller Jr. said in his weekly staff newsletter. The Community Hospital Health Services Foundation Board will consider the plan during its June 18 meeting. If it approves the changes: • Community Mercy Health Partners will become Springfield Regional Health System. • Community Hospital will be renamed Springfield Regional Hospital. • Mercy Medical Center will become Springfield Regional Heart Hospital. • Both hospitals would maintain emergency departments. Hospital spokesman Dave Lamb said the change follows Community Mercy's plan to consolidate its services in anticipation of moving into a single new hospital in 2011. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/03/sns050407hospital.html
May 15, 200718 yr From the 5/11/07 Springfield News-Sun: CMHP predicts $8 million loss Health Partners CEO says hospitals will be profitable in 2008 and are moving forward on new building. By Samantha Sommer Staff Writer Friday, May 11, 2007 Community Mercy Health Partners is budgeting for an $8 million loss this year, not including a plan to a consolidate two hospitals, but believes it will return to profitability in 2008 and remains committed to building a hospital downtown. George N. Miller, CMHP regional president and chief executive officer, discussed the latest hospital plans Thursday morning with about 50 business, government and community leaders. A town hall meeting will be held in two to three weeks to go over the information with the public. He reviewed a proposal for renaming and reorganizing Mercy Medical Center and Community Hospital as Springfield Regional Heart Hospital and Springfield Regional Hospital, respectively. Under the plan, which has to be approved by Community Hospital Health Services Foundation, cardiac services would be at what is now Mercy and other medical and surgical care at what is now Community by late fall. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/10/sns051107millertalkseg.html
August 14, 200717 yr City makes way for hospital By Samantha Sommer of the Springfield News-Sun Tuesday, August 14, 2007 The Springfield City Planning Board unanimously approved rezoning about 49 acres of land downtown to allow a new combined hospital. The board approved designating the area a downtown medical campus district at its meeting Monday night. "We've taken a large step to improve downtown Springfield and I think we're on the right track," board Chairman Robert Higgins said. City commissioners will review it next month. The city is buying properties near Buck Creek to make way for the hospital and owns about 67 percent of the area. The rezoning won't affect current property uses, which are grand-fathered. Timothy Mara, a lawyer representing Save Our Springfield, spoke against the rezoning. He urged board members to wait until they had specific development plans to review. Typically, zoning is unconditional and doesn't require detailed site plans up front, said Heather Whitmore, planning and zoning administrator. Plans would be submitted to get a building permit. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/08/13/sns081407zoning.html
August 28, 200717 yr Surgeons OK hospital plans City working on the new hospital's redevelopment agreement; construction could start before March By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer Thursday, August 16, 2007 SPRINGFIELD -- A group of doctors wanting to construct a surgical hospital have approved a final draft of a memorandum of understanding to build downtown. The city is working on a legal review and zoning certifications, which City Manager Matt Kridler said could be complete on Friday. Springfield city commissioners likely will vote on it at their Tuesday meeting. The memorandum sets out a basic understanding between the city and surgeons. A redevelopment agreement should follow to spell out the details, with a target date of Aug. 30, Kridler said. The city plans to purchase the downtown site designated for an ice arena from National Trail Parks and Recreation District for about $688,000, and then sell it to the surgeons for the same cost. The city also is working to secure options on parcels west of the rink site. The surgeons' developer and the Turner Foundation are working on parcels to the east. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/08/15/sns081607surgeons.html
September 10, 200717 yr City declares intent to use eminent domain By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer Wednesday, September 05, 2007 Springfield city commissioners declared Tuesday the intent to use eminent domain on several properties in the hospital redevelopment area. The declaration is the first step in the eminent domain process and negotiations can continue, Deputy Law Director Andrew Burkholder said. The city is buying property downtown to make way for a new combined hospital. Commissioners also approved a study finding the Southwest Downtown Urban Renewal Area, which includes the hospital site, blighted. It is the fourth study of the area and was prompted by court rulings changing the definition of blight. The city has boarded houses there while awaiting federal approval to begin demolition. MORE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/09/04/sns090507citycommission.html
November 7, 200816 yr Last buildings go down at hospital site By Kelly Mori, Springfield News-Sun, November 06, 2008 The City of Springfield, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, oversaw the first day of an expected two-day demolition of the Robinson Insulation buildings — the last properties standing in the footprint of the future Springfield Regional Medical Center. The city paid the buildings' owners Garth and Jennifer Robinson $2.6 million for the late-1800s-era buildings after the couple had filed, then lost, a lawsuit to block the city from acquiring the property through eminent domain. Acquiring the buildings that for nearly 120 years perched precariously on the cliffs overlooking Buck Creek and Veteran's Park, was "crucial " to the new hospital project, said Shannon Meadows, Springfields' community development director. Hospital planners had cited the scenic spot as their choice for the new hospital building. The demolition was tangible evidence of the daily work the city has done on preparing the way for the $230 million acute care hospital, Meadows said. Community Mercy Health Partners had Oct. 10 conducted a ground blessing for the 264-bed, 475,000-square-foot acute care hospital slated to open in 2012.
January 21, 200916 yr Lincoln Park Townhomes, a 210 unit housing complex once operated by the Springfield Metropolitan Housing Authority, is being redeveloped with 108 rental units and 38 single-family homes. The project was largely financed with a $20 million HOPE VI grant and is nearly complete. Project history is cataloged in this thread (where these photos will eventually be moved): http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic=3492.0.html
January 21, 200916 yr Not bad for a housing authority development. I'm not a big fan of the utilities and junction boxes in the front yards, but it's better than poles and wires all over the place.
January 21, 200916 yr ^ Especially when you look at the Destruction of Springfield thread and see the houses they just tore down. My wife has family in Springfield and they all live in condo developments on the edge of 'town.' I use the word loosely b/c to my uneducated eye it looks like Springfield is just a shell. Depressing.
January 22, 200916 yr These houses aren't THAT bad. I'm sure they're a dream to someone who is used to living in a crap hole.
January 22, 200916 yr Those look awful. Someone should be fired. I agree they look cheap, but it's HOPE VI, you can't expect too much architectural greatness out of this. I'd consider this development average. Check out Chicago's. They are rowhomes constructed of enormous bright red bricks with very utilitarian stoops. That's the Chicago adaptation, the above shows the attempt at a Springfield adaptation. I think the best I've seen is Philly's, yet it's still vinyl windows and false brick built to be faux historical. But they got the scaling, proportion, setback, and materiality correct. Damn, that's the second time I hit modify instead of quote. Sorry Motorist. Somebody can smack me upside the head.
January 22, 200916 yr Trim around the windows and doors would tie in better with the architectural styles they're trying to emulate. Paneled front doors, possibly with a little bit of glass in them would look less institutional, too. Still, the goal is to provide as much decent housing as possible for the money spent, so I can understand why they built them the way they did. Once you start adding non-functional niceties, where do you draw the line? I agree with xumelanie that the porches and sidewalks are good. They may get people outdoors and in touch with their neighbors. That builds a cohesive neighborhood where people take care of their properties and look after each other. In the next few years as the trees and landscaping grow in, the neighborhood will look more established.
January 22, 200916 yr Those look awful. Someone should be fired. I agree they look cheap, but it's HOPE VI, you can't expect too much architectural greatness out of this. I'd consider this development average. Check out Chicago's. They are rowhomes constructed of enormous bright red bricks with very utilitarian stoops. That's the Chicago adaptation, the above shows the attempt at a Springfield adaptation. I think the best I've seen is Philly's, yet it's still vinyl windows and false brick built to be faux historical. But they got the scaling, proportion, setback, and materiality correct. Damn, that's the second time I hit modify instead of quote. Sorry Motorist. Somebody can smack me upside the head. My biggest beef isn't the lack of trim or ornament, just the complete lack of good proportions and scale. Good design doesn't cost that much more. Just look at the site design - those transformer boxes on the corner of each lot. In that last picture, it looks like they are in the front left corner of every lot. Why not alternate them so that they are doubled up on every pair of lots? Then you can landscape around one eyesore per two lots instead of one eyesore per each lot. Again, wouldn't cost them a dime more, just takes two minutes of thinking about what you're doing. It's the same beef I have with Habitat for Humanity. Great program, great mission, great intentions, horrible execution. Let's assume that a lot of the new tenants of these houses are dirt poor. Can they afford to replace the vinyl siding when the first windstorm puts most of their siding in Columbus? Probably not. Can they afford (or do they have the skills) to make the inevitable repairs to a home built by the cheapest contractor (or volunteers)? Probably not. I think it's a little short sighted.
May 12, 201114 yr Office, retail center planned for Springfield Downtown Springfield is getting a 60,000-square-foot office and retail complex. The four-story complex, planned for West Main and Center streets, will overlook the new downtown park, National Road Commons. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/05/12/office-retail-center-planned-springfield.html :clap: "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 27, 20169 yr Springfield parking garage closer to reality A long-sought-after parking garage for downtown Springfield is looking hopeful after some of the funding for the idea has landed in the Ohio budget. The garage would help provide parking as several downtown employers have upped their presence and number of employees. It has been a high priority for economic development officials who see it as essential to supporting the continued growth of major downtown sites like Clark State Community College and Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital, who have cited a need for more parking as they bring people into the city. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2016/05/27/springfield-parking-garage-closer-to-reality.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 3, 20169 yr Hospital sparks resurgence in downtown Springfield It was a new hospital that led to a much healthier downtown Springfield. “What was the catalyst and continues to be a catalyst was clearing property for the construction of Springfield Regional Medical Center,” said Tom Franzen, assistant city manager and economic development director. “Clearing blight to recreate a 50-acre area is an opportunity not many communities get in a lifetime. We made a decision as a community that we were going to fight for the hospital to be downtown, knowing it would really turn the tide.” ... The city is completing the financing for construction of a new 460-space, four-story public parking garage. New housing options and locally owned businesses also are opening downtown. Some of these new options are putting once-vacant buildings back into productive use. For example, family-owned microbrewery Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company will include a tasting room and outdoor beer garden. It will open soon in the heart of downtown. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2016/06/03/hospital-sparks-resurgence-in-downtown-springfield.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 3, 20169 yr That's great! I toured the new hospital after it first opened and it's a huge improvement in terms of navigation and logistics over the old hospitals (both since torn down).
July 14, 20168 yr Hospital group puts $1M into redeveloping (Downtown) Springfield Mercy Health has committed $1 million to an initiative to redevelop Springfield's core. The Cincinnati-based health system, through its foundation, announced the funds will support the springFORWARD initiative over five years. Mercy Health oversees Community Mercy Health Partners and Springfield Regional Medical Center. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/blog/morning_call/2016/07/hospital-group-puts-1m-into-redeveloping.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 11, 20168 yr University to break ground on $41M complex Wittenberg University says it will break ground on a new $40.5 million wellness complex next March, thanks to strong donations for the project. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2016/10/10/university-to-break-ground-on-41m-complex.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 1, 20168 yr Clark State proposes $11M in upgrades to downtown Springfield campus Clark State Community College is seeking appropriations for more than $11 million in upgrades to its campus in downtown Springfield. The school has submitted requests for funding ahead of the proposed $5.7 million in renovations of the Performing Arts Center and neighboring Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center on its downtown campus — which bring a combined 100,000 people to downtown Springfield each year. At the same time, it is hoping for a $5.9 million renovation of the Brinkman Educational Center for a new "Center for Workforce Development." More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2016/11/30/clark-state-proposes-11m-in-upgrades-to-downtown.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 26, 20178 yr Dayton-area city could get more downtown apartments The creative reuse project could mean 25 to 30 new downtown apartments. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2017/04/26/dayton-area-city-could-get-more-downtown.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 8, 20177 yr Foundation seeks $2M in tax credits to transform historic Springfield building A foundation dedicated to improving quality of life in Springfield and Clark County is seeking $2 million in historic preservation tax credits for the site of a former department store. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2017/11/08/foundation-seeks-2m-in-tax-credits-to-transform.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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