By Tamas Mondovics
After a pair of public meetings held earlier this spring, officials from BayCare Health System were pleased to announce it is moving forward with plans to build a new Wellness Campus in the heart of the Bloomingdale and Valrico communities.
The project, which represents a $25 million investment on the part of BayCare will be located on a 21-acre parcel just east of the corner of Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest Road behind the former Albertson’s Plaza in Valrico.
“We are very excited about this project as the new campus will incorporate traditional and non traditional health care and wellness resources, all under one roof,” said BayCare Health System Senior VP of Ambulatory Services, Jim Cote. “The new facility will serve as a one stop shop.”
BayCare officials are promising that visually, the project, which includes a 160,000 sq.-ft. building to be developed in three phases, will include professional landscaping, a new pond, a courtyard and free parking.
Cote said that basic health resources such as doctor’s offices, primary care, radiation, imaging services, pharmacy, along with a number of non traditional programs such as healthy eating, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor wellness as well as a playground are all in the plans.
The new facility is said to employ 200-300 team members earning an estimated average salary in excess of $50,000.
Cote emphasized that resident’s input on the project, was both “welcomed and addressed.”
“We had a chance to make some changes to accommodate some of the concerns on the part of the community,” Cote said.
Adjustments included changing the location of trash receptacles and the appearance of the fencing at the edge of the property to be more visually pleasing.
BayCare officials are promising to hold another public meeting in June. The new campus is slated for completion in late 2017. For more information, visit www.baycare.org.
