By Parker Leavitt | The Republic | azcentral.com
For the second time this year, behavioral-health provider Springstone has announced that it is withdrawing plans to build Gilbert’s first mental-illness and addiction-treatment center after facing unwavering opposition from nearby residents and property owners.
The Kentucky-based company planned to build a $14 million, 72-bed inpatient hospital near Val Vista Drive and Williams Field Road to treat behavioral-health conditions, including depression, drug and alcohol dependency and mood disorders.
Dozens of residents, primarily from the Annecy neighborhood next to the proposed hospital site for weeks have begged town officials, the developer and the landowner to find another location for the hospital.
Opponents adopted the motto “Right idea, wrong location” as they voiced concern over potential impacts on child safety and property values.
An investor who owns hundreds of undeveloped lots in Annecy brought in Phoenix attorney Jordan Rose to fight the hospital through legal avenues, and Rose Law Group recently filed two appeals that threatened to stall the development for months.
