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Marquette General Hospital has released more details about the agreement with the City of Marquette to locate its new facility on the old roundhouse property adjacent to US-41. Here is their full press release:
Duke LifePoint and City of Marquette Sign Agreement
Regarding Site for New Marquette General Hospital
New $280 million project, including 279-bed hospital and 80,000-square-foot medical office building, finds home along Baraga Avenue in South Marquette.
Marquette, MI (September 9, 2014) – Duke LifePoint Healthcare has reached an agreement with the City of Marquette to build a new hospital campus for Marquette General Hospital (MGH) at what is known as the “Roundhouse/MSC site.”
On Monday, September 8, 2014, the Marquette City Commission voted to accept a memorandum of understanding (MOU) related to an offer by Duke LifePoint to purchase the 37-acre property in South Marquette. The parties will now move forward to negotiate the final terms of a contract for approval by the City Commission, a process which is expected to be completed in the near future.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the City of Marquette,” said Jeff Seraphine, President of LifePoint Hospital’s Eastern Group. “Finding the right spot for the new Marquette General Hospital has been a long and thoughtful process, and the Roundhouse/MSC Site emerged as the best fit for our needs. We are excited to partner with the City to revitalize this area and move forward on the construction of the new hospital and medical campus.”
The 37-acre Roundhouse/MSC property is located near the US-41 corridor and Baraga Avenue in South Marquette. It is south of Washington Street, west of 7th Avenue and north of US-41. Situated close to downtown and just one mile from North Michigan University, it will offer easy access to Marquette General from various main and secondary roads and enhance collaboration between the hospital and the university. It also is in close proximity to many community amenities.
The Roundhouse/MSC site was used for industrial purposes for generations. Redeveloping the land as a site for a new medical campus will offer major benefits to the Marquette community and add to ongoing revitalization of the downtown area.
“Environmentally, this is a great step forward for Marquette,” said MGH CEO Ed Banos. “As we have seen with the amazing development of Marquette’s Lower Harbor, brownfield areas previously used for industrial purposes can be transformed and revitalize our community. We are very proud to be a part in this proactive environmental evolution, while plotting our course toward opening the finest hospital UP residents could hope for.”
Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding reached, Duke LifePoint will pay $4 million for the property, constructing a 279-bed hospital structure and 80,000-square-foot physician office building. The project cost is estimated at more than $280 million. The City of Marquette will work to have the Roundhouse/MSC property designated a Brownfield Project, which would provide incentives for its revitalization.
Additionally, the City has agreed to make changes to the roadways surrounding the property including realigning Baraga Avenue to tie into Spring Street, expanding 7th Street and West Spring Street, establishing a roundabout or other entrance to the new hospital on US-41, and building a new bridge on US-41 at Grove Street. It also will lead upgrades to the utility infrastructure surrounding the site.
“In the Roundhouse property, we have found the perfect place to build a state-of-the-art hospital and medical office facility, ensure easy access to care for our patients, and expand on our commitment to providing UP residents with the finest healthcare possible,” Seraphine added. “We want to thank the City Commission for its hard work and cooperation in ensuring that MGH can remain within the City of Marquette and help drive this community forward for generations to come.”
Veteran healthcare design firm Gresham, Smith and Partners (GS&P) was chosen in early spring as the architect of the new Marquette General facility. Selected from healthcare architects across the nation, Gresham, Smith and Partners has worked with health systems in communities worldwide and is on the forefront of creating efficient and resilient designs for the changing healthcare market.
Schematics for the new Marquette General campus are underway, and design will begin late fall. A groundbreaking is planned for spring 2015, and construction on the campus is expected to be complete in late 2017.
MGH will continue occupy its current College Avenue location until the new hospital is constructed and operational. During that time, MGH will work closely with the city officials and the community to explore how its present campus can be best utilized in the long-term future.
