Healthcare Spotlight on Palm Coast with Approval of a New Medical Campus

City Planning Board recommends approval of a development order for 88.6 acres on the west side of US 1 opposite PC Pkwy for a medical campus with a possible hospital and related medical facilities.

PALM COAST, FL – November 11, 2020 – The Palm Coast Planning & Land Development Regulation Board (PLDRB) on Wednesday, November 4th voted unanimously to recommend to City Council the approval of a development order for a medical campus on 88.6 acres on the west side of US Route 1, opposite Palm Coast Pkwy.

SITE OF FUTURE MEDICAL CAMPUS

The parcel, known as South Palm Coast Park Master Planned Development (MPD) had been entitled for light industrial use. The new development calls for a medical campus, which may include a hospital, medical offices, laboratories, primary care center, urgent care center, a wellness center, outpatient surgery center, educational facilities, other medical-related uses, and ancillary retail and restaurant uses.

Developer representative Michael Chiumento, citing confidentiality, declining to discuss details of a potential user of the site. When speaking of future job opportunities that the project might create, however, Chiumento listed medical, educational, and research possibilities.

City planning staff pointed out the need for additional healthcare services on the west side of the city.

St Johns River Water Management District permits are already secured. The Army Corp of Engineers permits are forthcoming. The next step will be two city council public hearings. If approved, the final site plan and the platting process would be the next steps.

The South Palm Coast Park MPD development order recommendation comes on the heels of other significant healthcare facilities announcements:

In October, the final agreement document was signed approving MedNex (Medical Nexus), a private-public partnership to be located in Town Center. MedNex is a $19M commitment involving the University of North Florida, Flagler Schools (Flagler’s largest public-sector employer), Daytona State College, AdventHealth (Flagler’s largest private-sector employer), Allete Energy (developer of Town Center), City of Palm Coast, and Douglas Properties and Development.

Why MedNex Makes Perfect Sense – The Force Multiplier of Demographics

AdventHealth has exhibited strong growth since it completed its hospital in 2005.

• The hospital at 60 Memorial Medical Pkwy has grown to 288,411 square feet
• Advent built a 33,700 square foot satellite facility at 120 Cypress Edge Dr in 2012
• In 2018, AdventHealth purchased 16,601 of professional condominium space at 21 Memorial Pkwy for $7.125M.
• AdventHealth has announced plans to build a 10-acre two-building campus to provide urgent care and medical office building on the north side of Matanzas Woods Pkwy at Old Kings Road.
• After news of the South Palm Coast Park MPD application began to circulate, AdventHealth purchased 10 acres of vacant commercial property on Palm Coast Pkwy West for $4.137M. AdventHealth issued a statement at the time that they had no imminent plans for that property.

The development order for Palm Coast Health Village, a project brought by Flagler Health + (an affiliate of Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine)  will incorporate family practice with embedded behavioral health services, women’s care, urgent care, orthopedics, imaging, and laboratory services all within a community-centric setting. The $4.5 million project will incorporate dedicated green space for healthy lifestyle programming, art activities, and events and will likely include a key community engagement partner.

The benefit to Palm Coast and surrounding area – higher-paying jobs for graduating students and new arrivals and improved healthcare choices for residents.