Inspira Health Network is in the beginning stages of plans to build an outpatient service facility on Clements Bridge Road — a project that was initially going to be done in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, but plans are still uncertain, hospital officials said.
Inpsira closed on a 30-acre property, located close to the Deptford Mall and Pathmark Shopping Center, for $4 million in early February. The land, which is next to property owned by a company with plans to build a 2,000-seat movie theater, was sold to Inpsira by Clements Bridge Greenbriar LLC .
It’s the latest step in the health care network’s plans for rapid expansion throughout South Jersey. In February, Inspira purchased a 100 acre parcel in Harrison Township from Rowan University for $9.5 million. There at the interchange of Route 55 and Route 322, Inspira intends to build a new 172-bed hospital. The health care network also has several large facilities throughout the area including what was once Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury.
Deptford Mayor Paul Medany was not surprised by the purchase, stating there has been a spike in interest of developing medical resources in the area.
“When DuPont moved into the area with the children’s hospital on Almonesson Road, it generated a lot of interest for other healthcare facilities to come to the area,” said Medany. “While we had no idea Inspira was interested in buying the property, it wasn’t all that surprising.
According to Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations at Inspira Health Network Gregory Potter, plans haven’t been set.
“We’re in the very beginning stages of planning what will be at this property,” said Potter. “We targeted this site to provide some type of outpatient services but that’s where we’re at with that.”
According to Potter, plans are at a standstill for the time being as Inspira and Jefferson work out the details. In late January, Kennedy Health — which has facilities in Washington Township, Stratford and Cherry Hill — and Jefferson announced the two hospitals were planning to join forces in a merger.
“The merger is still just a letter in intent,” said Nicole Pensiero, corporate director of communications at Kennedy Health. “They’re still working out a definitive agreement, so there is not official merger yet.”
That potential merger was announced just weeks after Kennedy Health officials spoke in opposition to Inspira’s plans to build a new hospital so close to Kennedy’s flagship Washington Township location.
“Originally, it was meant to be a partnered site with Jefferson, but we’re still talking with Jefferson in light of their merger with Kennedy,” Potter said.
Officials from Jefferson did not immediately return a request for comment.
With both properties in the midst of big plans, Medany said he is looking forward to the impact on Deptford as a whole.
“We’re pushing for economic development, even though plans are being delayed and little is set, it’s on it’s way.”
As for the movie theater property, Medany said the 23-acre property next to the land now owned by Inpsira is “still owned by the original buyers,” he said. “Those owners haven’t been in touch with the township for a while now, but they have all of the permits and approvals to get the movie theater started.”
However, the 23-acre property reserved for the theaters is not a part of the Inspira purchase and is located immediately next to it.
“It’s a whole separate property,” said Medany. “The movie theater site is next to the Inspira site and is still owned by the original buyers. Those owners haven’t been in touch with the township for a while now, but they have all of the permits and approvals to get the movie theater started.
Caitlin Stulpin | April 15, 2016 | Source