ProMedica's new office complex would give Toledo Hospital north campus new bus stop, more parking

1/10/2013

A plan to revamp the “north campus” of ProMedica Toledo Hospital is scheduled to come before the Toledo City Plan Commission today.

ProMedica plans to build a new 55,000-square-foot medical office building and expand parking areas at its campus off West Central Avenue just north of the hospital. It is seeking approval of a “major site plan review” from the plan commission before proceeding.

Lisa Cottrell, administrator of the commission, said no objections have been filed to the plan, which involves tearing down an office building at the site and a ProMedica-owned house on St. Bernard Drive. ProMedica held neighborhood meetings to discuss its plans, she said, adding that neighbors were more curious than anything.

“They’re really doing a nice job with the design, a nice job with landscaping,” she said. “We requested a bus stop in front of the building, and they are working with TARTA to do that.”

James Gee, general manager of TARTA, said discussions are ongoing.

“Plans are not finalized yet to the best of my knowledge, but we know that we have passengers that go to ProMedica’s facilities and we look forward to working with them,” he said.

Locating a bus stop at the site would allow ProMedica to reduce the number of parking spots required by the city by 20 percent.

ProMedica spokesman Tim Langhorst declined to put a price tag on the project but said the two-story building would house physician offices, retail space for The Pharmacy Counter, and the ProMedica Toledo Hospital Family Medicine residency program.

Construction on the planned medical office building is expected to take 12 to 18 months. “Work will begin once we have necessary approvals,” he said.

According to the planning department's report, the new medical office building “will be situated on the site to mark a prominent entrance point to the Toledo Hospital's North Campus.” The building will be designed to meet green building standards set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at:jfeehan@theblade.comor 419-724-6129.