By Kevin Collison
The building boom at what’s now being branded the “UMKC Health Sciences District” aka Hospital Hill is continuing with the kickoff of the $70 million University Health 2 project.
The 80,000 square-foot facility will accommodate women’s care and primary care services currently in Truman Medical Center, freeing hospital space to expand its mother-baby unit and open more private patient rooms.
It also will have a full-service Walgreens and a Roasterie coffee shop on its ground level.
University Health is affiliated with Truman Medical Center (TMC), providing outpatient services for the hospital and staffed by its physicians. The new project comes just three years after the completion of the $45 million University Health 1 building.
Charlie Shields, president and CEO of Truman, told the audience at the groundbreaking last week the new building is being driven by the demand at TMC.
“We think it looks more like a performing arts center than a medical clinic,” he said.
Shields added the TMC charitable foundation is launching a capital campaign to create a new, state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Truman.
UMKC Chancellor Dr. Chandra Mauli Agrawal said the district, which includes his university’s Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dentistry, draws an estimated 13,000 employees, students and faculty.
TMC is the teaching hospital for UMKC healthcare students.
Agrawal referred to the area as the UMKC Health Sciences District, saying the new term is part of an effort to promote greater collaboration between its major healthcare facilities. In addition to TMC and the UMKC schools, the district includes Children’s Mercy Hospital and the Kansas City Health Department and
The University Health 2 project at 22nd and Charlotte is located only a block away from the $150 million, nine-story Children’s Mercy research tower now under construction. Both facilities are expected to be completed in early 2020.
The Hospital Hill area also is attracting substantial investments on the adjoining stretch of Troost Avenue including new UMKC student housing, an apartment development and a hotel.
University Health is downtown’s only outpatient surgical center. It also has clinics for dermatology, orthopedics and a Hernia Center.
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But they are tearing down a larger five story building to put it up. So it’s not really adding to the density of the area. That’s too bad with so many empty lots and parking lots in the hospital hill area.
But that 5 story building had been sitting there for years, doing nothing. I thought maybe it would be a matter of time before it would be rehabbed. I imagine there was a feasibility study performed before they tore it down.
curious who owns those lots in the area. UMKC, KCMO, etc. may not own that land. But knowing there is land still leaves it prime for development. As they new buildings go up, adding more money and people to the area I’m sure those spots will develop. Would love to see development roll down the hill into the Cross Roads and create a seamless area from Grand over to Holmes to 18th St, all filled in with a vibrant mix of residential, business & entertainment. We have a great start
The new East Crossroads apartment development planned by Milhaus at 19th and Oak should create that connection to the Crossroads from Hospital Hill that you suggest.
And a new ballpark in the East Crossroads area would do wonders to that area and all of Kansas City.
I wouldn’t really call 1 new children’s mercy building a construction boom. For this building they have to tear down another. Atleast it will look cool
Not adding to the density of the area? Bill Cobb have you driven around the Hospital Hill/Beacon Hill/Longfellow/Union Hill/Crown Center/Hospital Hill area lately?
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