In a push to widely extend its healthcare services, the University of Michigan Health System has reportedly sealed the deal to purchase land that was once the beating heart of Kmart corporation in Troy. Michigan Medicine, the clinical arm of the university system, will fork over $4.42 million for a 7.28-acre slice of the former retail giant's property, according to an announcement released by the school.

Big plans are in store for the plot located at 3100 W. Big Beaver Road, with designs to set up a multi-specialty care center expected to prop up the health system's reach into Oakland County. "We are thrilled to announce our plans for a long term presence and commitment to patients in Oakland County, in keeping with our efforts to create a statewide network of care that allows Michiganders the ability to receive our world-class care close to home," Michigan Medicine’s CEO Marschall S. Runge said, according to a statement obtained by University of Michigan's news release.

The land purchase, sanctioned on March 28 by the University of Michigan Board of Regents, is placed strategically to cater to the southeasterly population of Michigan. Shedding light on the specifics, David Miller, president of UM-health, illustrates the vision: "We believe this new investment will to surely bring our U-M Health expertise to a whole new community of patients, providing easier access for metro Detroit residents to our nationally renowned clinical expertise and innovation," as shared with FOX 2 Detroit.

As Kmart's legacy fades, with its last Michigan store shutting doors in November 2021, the former headquarters site, which began demolition last fall, is to be reborn as a hub for progressive healthcare. The tragic decline of the retail giant, which saw its employee count dwindle from a peak of 5,000 to less than 1,900 when the property was sold in 2005, brings to mind a reminder of economic flux. However, the new health care project promises to infuse the space with a fresh pulse of activity and innovation. UM plans to uphold its commitment to sustainable design, aspiring to meet the university's guidelines for minimally impacting the environment negatively, as the university release noted.

The development is just a part of the health system's larger ambitions, which include the soon-to-open 12-story D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion in Ann Arbor and a new Ypsilanti Health Center in downtown Ypsilanti, gearing up to open its doors in late 2024. The goal is clear: bring top-tier medical services and cancer care closer to residents throughout Michigan, thereby transforming the face of healthcare accessibility in the region. The sale was initially reported by Crain's Detroit Business, which laid bare the historical context of the Kmart property's significance to the community.