Sylvania OKs ProMedica plans

Some adjustments to be made to new center in Starlite Plaza

6/12/2014
BY NATALIE TRUSSO CAFARELLO
BLADE STAFF WRITER
A rendering shows the planned 230,000-square-foot wellness center on the site of the old Churchill’s supermarket.
A rendering shows the planned 230,000-square-foot wellness center on the site of the old Churchill’s supermarket.

Sylvania officials approved the architectural and site plans for ProMedica’s $45 million three-story health and wellness center building at Starlite Plaza, 5700 Monroe St., with stipulations.

ProMedica officials, architects, and engineers agreed Wednesday night the building would be 45 feet tall, 2 feet shorter than planned. The company also agreed to not disrupt water and fire-suppression services during demolition of the buildings now on the property. The medical center will be operational by late 2015.

The 230,000-square-foot health and wellness center will be built on the site the former Churchill’s supermarket, which will be razed.

Also to be torn down on the 11-acre property is a 60,000-square-foot strip center on the west side of Starlite Plaza and a 37,000-square-foot strip center behind the grocery store. The smaller strip center is vacant. The remaining tenant of the larger strip center, Sewing and Vacuum Express, has a two-year lease and has no plans to leave.

Ralphie’s Sports Eatery and a building occupied by Dave’s Performance Footgear and the Buckeye Store and More, will stay on the east side of Starlite. An older retail building that abuts Dave’s will be demolished.

“Since buildings were constructed in phases and had additions, we want to ensure that services are not interrupted for those buildings that stay,” Deputy Service Director Joe Shaw said about the demolition.

Mr. Shaw said city service department officials will meet with ProMedica and its architects Tuesday to discuss the demolition process. Kendall Ruhberg, HKS project management vice president, and ProMedica officials agreed to incorporate city requests into its plan.

Tim Grohnke, ProMedica’s vice president of facility improvement, said demolition will start in about two weeks.

The new medical facility will house 23 “modules” for groups of physicians, each containing the doctors’ office, exam rooms, caregiver or nursing stations, and supply rooms.

Mr. Ruhberg said the facility’s innovate design allows a patient to seek treatment for one disease from multiple doctors. A one-stop-shop medical-care concept, it will house family practice physicians, specialty medical practices, outpatient medical services, diagnostic services, and wellness education.

Design plans show some suites will be occupied by Alexis Medical Center, Woodley Park Internal Medicine, Family Practice of Toledo, Port Sylvania Family Physicians, and Westgate Medical Group.

The building’s facade will be made up of terra-cotta brick, steel, and glass. It will have nearly 900 parking spaces.

ProMedica bought the 44-year-old Starlite Plaza last June for $7 million from Brixmor Property Group of New York, a company owned by Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI LP of New York.

Contact Natalie Trusso Cafarello at: 419-206-0356, or ntrusso@theblade.com, or on Twitter @natalietrusso.