The federal authorities is getting nearer to finalizing plans for a brand new 1.6 million-square-foot Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital within the San Antonio Medical Heart.
The proposed new hospital would exchange the present Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital at 7400 Merton Minter Blvd.
Plans are outlined in a lately revealed solicitation for architectural engineering providers from the Military Corps of Engineers searching for enter on design and building of the hospital. The discover acknowledged the venture, valued at $90 million, will encompass a major facility, administration area, utility plant and two garages with 3,000 parking areas.
The discover additionally states it’s merely a “sources sought” announcement for preliminary planning functions and isn’t a solicitation for proposals for which a contract might be awarded.
The VA is within the early planning phases of a proposed relocation of the VA hospital, acknowledged a division spokeswoman, Jessica Jacobsen, and the division is presently researching websites and making ready an environmental influence assertion for the proposed venture.
The latest announcement is taken into account “market analysis” for architectural and engineering and building providers, the spokeswoman added. Areas, prices and timelines would come into focus with a future federal finances submission.
Within the discover, it states the brand new hospital could be situated lower than two miles north of the present Audie L. Murphy hospital.
The proposed new hospital’s website is 50-plus acres of vacant land on the northeast nook of Hamilton Wolf Highway and Floyd Curl Drive. It adjoining to a neighborhood alongside Cinnamon Hill Drive and owned by the San Antonio Medical Basis.
In lieu of a brand new hospital in a brand new location, the division is also contemplating an choice to demolish the present hospital and changing it with a newly constructed facility on the Audie L. Murphy website.
Named for a embellished WWII fight hero and actor from Texas, that facility opened in 1973 and is one among 17 well being care services run by the VA in South Texas, together with a medical middle in Kerrville. The VA opened an outpatient clinic alongside State Freeway 151 and Rogers Highway in late 2023.
The South Texas VA system serves greater than 115,000 veterans, in accordance with the hospital’s web site.
Veteran care in San Antonio
SAMA’s management has been discussing the potential of its vacant land getting used for the VA hospital venture for a number of years, mentioned Richard Perez, president of the San Antonio Medical Basis.
Perez and his group have been collaborating within the environmental influence assertion course of in San Antonio.
A report on the general public remark interval for the influence assertion ought to be finalized by March, he mentioned, “and that may, in essence, give the VA the inexperienced gentle to start the method to doubtlessly purchase the property from us for the brand new VA Hospital.”
The VA is working towards a possible completion date of 2032, Perez mentioned.
Perez added that the VA hospital is essential to the South Texas Medical Heart ecosystem and the synergy between well being care and analysis establishments there.
Bexar County is dwelling to 173,000 veterans.
“One of many issues that we all know is that to ensure that the South Texas Medical Heart to proceed to thrive and to only be all of the issues that it’s proper now, and extra, the VA is a vital a part of not solely the availability of well being care to veterans and their family members, but in addition due to the great quantity of coaching that goes there,” he mentioned.
The present hospital is in dire want of upgrades, Perez added. Nevertheless it could possibly be repurposed for different VA well being care makes use of even after a brand new hospital opens.
When the Basis sells the property to the VA, it will likely be left with about 200 acres of the unique 950 it as soon as owned within the Medical Heart in Northwest San Antonio.
The design and building solicitation for the VA Hospital was posted on Tuesday and permits 30 days for responses to be submitted. The contract is predicted to be issued in April.
The Report produced a map of all San Antonio hospitals right here.
Andrea Drusch contributed to this report.
