Posted Jun 11, 2010, 5:38 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 5,103
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So check this out...they seem pretty set on getting this thing built. Now I wonder when they say " downtown Phoenix" if they really mean downtown between the 7's and south of I-10 or...? Do we know if they own any land in downtown? Would it be on County land? Maybe on medical campus since they have been trying to get a hospital?
Quote:
Phoenix VA seeking $200M clinic
New center could be near downtown's UA medical school
Phoenix Business Journal - by Angela Gonzales
The Phoenix VA Hospital plans to build an outpatient clinic in downtown Phoenix that could cost about $200 million to address the shortage of space at its facility on Indian School Road at Seventh Street.
The hospital has submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington to build a 359,000-square-foot clinic that would provide primary care, mental health care, audiology, dermatology, rheumatology, optical, radiology and laboratory services.
Paula Pedene, spokeswoman for the Phoenix VA system, declined to comment about the cost and exact location pending notification from Veterans Affairs. The project needs approval from the federal government before it can go out to bid for construction contracts.
Mike Carson, division manager for preconstruction services for Kitchell, which builds hospitals, estimated the project could cost between $197 million and $215 million.
“Typically, you will see construction costs anywhere from 50 (percent) to 60 percent of that,” he said. “So if it’s a $200 million job, construction could be $100 million to $120 million.”
He said the proposed clinic would be as large as many community hospitals, including Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Banner Estrella Medical Center and Arrowhead Hospital.
U.S. Reps. Ed Pastor and Harry Mitchell, both Arizona Democrats, wrote a letter of support and recommendation for the project to the VA Department, saying a collaboration with the University of Arizona’s medical school in downtown Phoenix would be a valuable opportunity.
“We are going to need new resources to help meet the needs of our veterans,” said Mitchell, who is chairman of the Subcommittee for Oversight and Investigations for the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Bottom line, I want to ensure that our veterans get timely access to benefits and the best care we can provide. They have earned it.”
Pastor declined to comment.
In their joint letter of support, Pastor and Mitchell said a collaboration “would provide valuable opportunities for all parties as this cutting-edge academic medical center conducts state-of-the-art medical training and research needed to benefit America’s veterans.”
Arizona is home to more than 500,000 veterans, including 310,000 in Maricopa County. The Phoenix VA system serves 72,000 veterans a year.
Also in their letter, the congressmen said this project would address unmet needs for the newest generation of veterans, as well as those who served previously.
“Both groups bear wounds that often cannot be readily seen and are, therefore, difficult to diagnose,” the letter said. “Continuing to build supportive outreach programs and adding personnel would help meet those growing needs and will complement outstanding efforts already under way locally.”
In response to the letter, Eric Shinseki, secretary of the VA Department, said the project could be considered for major construction funding in fiscal 2012.
“VA anticipates reaching a decision on the fiscal 2012 budget by February 2011,” Shinseki told the congressmen in a response letter. “In the event it does not score high enough for funding, this concept will be considered for funding through the VA’s Health Care Center initiative as a major lease.”
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