Plans to maneuver Griffin Memorial Hospital to Oklahoma City are within the works, and stakeholders are courting the state’s psychological well being company with land and money to make that occur, The Transcript has discovered.
Oklahoma County Commissioners on Tuesday permitted $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the transfer if the company relocates the hospital to that county.
The 120-bed facility, which has been in Norman for 100 years, is operated by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Agency spokesperson Jeffrey Dismukes stated Wednesday plans to relocate the hospital haven’t been finalized nor has a timeline.
“There are several communities which have expressed interest when we talk about a new hospital,” Dismukes advised The Transcript. “Oklahoma City is one of those.
“In some cases, the efforts by philanthropic groups and others to help support construction have been made. So, obviously those are factors we’re going to consider.”
At stake is a $90 million tax benefit for the neighborhood that may name the hospital residence, company spokesperson Heath Hayes advised Oklahoma County commissioners Tuesday.
The transfer would come with a “huge economic benefit” which is able to add 223 jobs and “$90 million in terms of taxes generated from those new jobs and the cost of deterring people from the emergency room,” Hayes advised the fee.
Hayes stated the company thought-about a “possible” transfer after Oklahoma State Unviersity-Oklahoma City supplied free land and a number of other foundations supplied their assist.
“There’s a lot of opportunity in Oklahoma County,” Hayes stated. “And a lot of interest from family foundations, the city of Oklahoma City and other potential partners.
“OSU-OKC has been willing to deed us some land, potentially here in Oklahoma City north of Reno, south of OSU-OKC. The cost to move and to prepare that land to build a new hospital is about $10 million.”
Hayes added the state company is inside $1.5 million “of securing that $10 million to be able to make that move in that decision.”
There was an try
City Manager Darrel Pyle, in an electronic mail to The Transcript on Wednesday, stated he understood “why the State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services had to give the land incentive serious consideration.”
“I had several conversations with Mr. (Durand) Crosby on the subject,” Pyle stated. “The decision was very much a business decision based on the population being served by the department. Access to the site, and a variety of support services could not be matched here in Norman.”
Crosby is chief of workers and operations for the state psychological well being company.
Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland stated he has spoken with the company through the years about its plans for the land and a brand new hospital, however these plans steadily modified.
“I’d get conflicting stories from the Department of Mental Health, too, as to what they want,” stated Cleveland, fee chairman. “I think it’s just a matter of there are people that want it and either they want to consolidate in Oklahoma City as the location, or I also heard they were looking at Stillwater and Tulsa. and then they have this land at OSU-OKC.”
Cleveland stated he can be disillusioned to see the power go.
“It would be beneficial to Norman, but I don’t know what else we can do,” he stated.
What now?
Mayor Larry Heikkila stated whereas a possible transfer is was regarding news, town has taken steps to find out what to do with the land if Griffin chooses to go away or promote its campus.
“We’ve heard rumors of this over the past few years,” Heikkila stated. “In fact, the city commissioned a land use survey through the Urban Land Institute to explore their suggestions for best use, if Griffin moved.
“Although I rue the loss of the jobs, and the hospital which has been a mainstay here in Norman, we must also be prepared for change.”
In April, plans to maneuver the homeless shelter to the Griffin Memorial advanced close to Main Street and Reed Avenue have been scrapped when the company advised town it might must promote “most if not all” its land and buildings to assemble a brand new psychological well being hospital.
The mayor stated he sees a silver lining when the property comes up for sale.
“The idea that a city the size of Norman would have a large area of land available for development in its core area is very exciting,” he stated. “The city might have an opportunity to buy the Griffin property. That would change a potentially bad situation into a great opportunity for Norman.”
The metropolis is present process a examine for its land use and transportation insurance policies, and has contracted with Strong Towns, a company that helps communities rethink zoning and different land use insurance policies to create economically stronger cities.
“Providentially, we are beginning the Strong Towns revisioning process as this possible Griffin move is coming to light,” Heikkila stated. “So either way, move or no move; Norman will benefit.”
Dismukes stated on the finish of the day, the company should think about what’s greatest for its sufferers and the state to information its choice.
“When that decision is made, it’s going to be based on what’s best for the people we serve in the state as a whole, for our employees,” he stated. “There’s going to be multiple factors considered for the most benefit to clients, staff and our intent to be a national leader in mental health.”
The new facility would enhance the variety of out there beds to 330 with 275 beds for adults and 55 for adolescents, Dismukes stated.
In September, the state Legislature permitted $87 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the brand new hospital. According to the legislature’s assertion on the time, the hospital can be accomplished by 2026.
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