Memorial Hospital plans to add 36 patient rooms at its West tower in a $13 million project to build-out the fifth floor.
“We know there’s a high demand for our healthcare services as we’re regularly exceeding our capacity expectations,” said Chief Operating Officer Cory Darling in a statement.
Construction will start in April with the fifth floor tentatively scheduled to open by year-end, the hospital said.
The main campus is at 3625 University Blvd. S. The five-floor West tower was built in 2009 and Memorial Hospital has used four of the five floors for patients.
The fifth floor was built as shell space and designed and designated for expansion.
The project coincides with Memorial Hospital’s $23 million emergency room expansion.
The additional private rooms for medical and surgical patients will boost the number of Memorial Hospital’s licensed beds to 454.
Memorial Hospital has about 2,000 employees and will add at least 40 jobs because of the added rooms.
The city approved a permit application for the $8 million construction project Friday. Memorial said it will encompass 27,688 square feet of space.
Charles Perry Partners Inc. of Gainesville is the contractor.
The city also is reviewing a permit for Memorial Hospital to expand and upgrade its two dedicated cardiovascular operating rooms.
The area’s third identified site for a ChenMed Dedicated Senior Medical Center was approved Friday for build-out.
Golden Sands General Contractors Inc. of Miami is the contractor for the $600,000 renovation of the 11,000-square-foot former Goodwill store at 6841 Blanding Blvd.
The plan doesn’t say ChenMed but identifies the project as the “Dedicated Senior Medical Center.” The owner is the same as one of the other centers and the architect is the same as both other ChenMed offices.
ChenMed chose to renovate existing space in Jacksonville for its entry into the market.
ChenMed says it is a Medicare Advantage provider that brings concierge-style medicine to low- to moderate-income seniors, most of whom are managing multiple chronic conditions.
The first identified Jacksonville site for ChenMed is in Arlington. CBJ Construction Inc. of Dania Beach is the contractor for the 13,500-square-foot build-out at a cost of $600,000 at 9420 and 9422 Arlington Expressway in the center of the Regency Pointe shopping center.
In Northwest Jacksonville, a Dedicated Senior Medical Center is planned in the former ABC Liquors at 3059 Edgewood Ave. W. No contractor is listed for the $400,000 build-out of 9,452 square feet.
The property was sold by Orlando-based ABC Liquors Inc. to TH Jacksonville 3059 Edgewood LLC for $1.2 million. The building, on 1.94 acres, was developed in 1961.
The former Goodwill store was sold to TH Jacksonville 6841 Blanding LLC. It was built in 2004 on 1.38 acres.
TH Jacksonville 6841 Blanding shares the same Santa Monica, California, address as TH Jacksonville 3059 Edgewood LLC.
ChenMed was founded by Taiwanese immigrant and cancer survivor Dr. James Chen. It provides care to seniors, particularly those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky and Virginia.