New six-story hospital coming to Parrish gets OK from Manatee County. Who will run it?
The Manatee County Commission paved the way for residents north of the Manatee River to have their own hospital for the first time.
Developers asked the county officials for permission to build a medical complex as part of the North River Ranch master-planned community in Parrish. The complex will feature a six-story hospital, assisted living facilities and 125,000 square feet of medical offices.
Board members had little difficulty approving the request, hailing the hospital as a much-needed addition in a part of town that has seen rapid development. In addition to several other housing projects in the area, North River Ranch estimates that it will become home to 28,000 residents in the coming years.
The planned hospital will provide up to 150 beds. That number can be expanded at a later date with approval from the Manatee Board of County Commissioners. In addition to the hospital, the assisted living facility is expected to provide 326 beds.
“I have talked about having a hospital in north county for years and years and years,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said. “I am just thrilled that it’s finally going to happen. We need it desperately.”
“I really think that all these citizens will feel a lot more secure and safe with all these services in the area,” added Commissioner Carol Whitmore.
The Bradenton Herald previously reported on the proposal from Neal Land & Neighborhoods, the developer behind North River Ranch. Local residents and organizations have expressed support for the hospital in recent weeks.
“With all of the new homes and buildings going into the area and the need for improved infrastructure, which we are aware is in process, having medical facilities ‘North of the River’ are imperative to the health and safety of the community,” Jennifer Hamey, president of the Parrish Civic Association, wrote in an April 24 letter to the board.
Alan Jones, president of Jones Potato Farm, also wrote a letter in support of the planned medical complex, praising its “catalytic smart growth” in the North County area.
The hospital is expected to join Manatee Memorial Hospital, HCA Florida Blake Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center as one of Manatee County’s premier medical providers.
Speaking with the board during a public meeting Thursday morning, developers shared an artist’s rendering of the building but noted that the design of the hospital has not been finalized. A construction timeline has not been revealed, either.
John Neal, president of Neal Land & Neighborhoods, said he has been in conversation with different healthcare providers, but the builder is still working to determine who will operate the hospital.
“I want the best hospital we can get. I want it to look nice, be nice and be a safe place for the people. If y’all can pull that off, that sounds like a good goal to me, so good luck in getting it done,” Commissioner James Satcher told the developers.
The board voted 6-1 to approve the general development plan for the medical complex. Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge voted against the project, noting that he would have preferred to have the board vote on the final site plan of the hospital building.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 1:37 PM.
