In an effort to enhance healthcare delivery in Memphis, the Shelby County Commission has given the green light to acquire a new site for Regional One Health's campus, slated to replace the old Commercial Appeal building at 495 Union Avenue. WMC Action News 5 reports that the commission's decision, an 11-1 vote, authorizes a $23,900,000 purchase of the property in question.
With the proposed move, the facility aims to mitigate disruptions for its existing operations and patients as the new campus is constructed. Local Memphis cites Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris saying, "This project will become the new front door of Downtown and has the potential to be the State’s flagship academic medical center." The old location had been previously considered for redevelopment but, as Regional One's CEO Dr. Reginald Coopwood pointed out, a multi-phase construction at the current site on Jefferson Ave would greatly prolong the process.
Demolition of the old newspaper building will pave the way for a more modern and efficient structure to emerge within five to seven years. Costing between $700 million and $1 billion, this plan significantly trims down the original eight to ten-year timeline set for revamping the current site. FOX13 Memphis highlights Dr. Coopwood's emphasis on the importance of the new site for planning purposes, given its size and topography.
Further propelling this vision, Regional One is joining forces with experts to ensure the project's success. The hospital officials are working in collaboration with Covalus and Allworld Project Management, bringing together local insight, and international experience in crafting hospitals of substantial scale. "This joint venture brings together the expertise of a large, international firm with deep experience in building mega hospitals and a smaller, local firm poised to gain more experience, and scale for the future," hospital officials elaborated, as stated by Local Memphis.
The ambitious project, still in its earlier stages, remains contingent on state and federal funding beyond the already committed $150 million from Shelby County. The actual start date for the construction has not been specified, marking yet another milestone ahead for Regional One Health's advancement and the betterment of medical services for Memphis residents.
