By Parker Leavitt | The Arizona Republic
A developer’s controversial plan to build a mental-health hospital next to an elementary school in Gilbert is on hold after staunch opposition from parents led the company on Thursday to announce its intention to seek a different location.
Springstone, a Kentucky-based hospital operator, had hoped to open Gilbert’s first behavioral-health institution by fall 2014, but concerned neighbors and parents from Pioneer Elementary School mobilized against the company.
Gilbert’s economic development team will work with Springstone to find a new potential site for the hospital, which was to have 72 beds and cost about $14 million.
About 40 parents were meeting with the school principal on Thursday when the announcement came via phone call, prompting a collective cheer and some tears among the group.
