The city’s second hospital is moving forward as part of a much larger medical and innovation campus. The campuses will have a total of more than 1.5 million square feet of space when completed. [S3 BioTech]
By Jay Taylor | InMaricopa
When the Maricopa Planning & Zoning Commission approved a zoning change to allow the Copper Sky medical campus to move forward, it started the ball rolling on what will become much more than the city’s second hospital.
Yes, the developers, S3 BioTech, are planning a specialty ER hospital of at least 100,000 square feet and 25 beds. The project also would include medical service facilities, including an ambulatory surgery center, a catheterization lab and office space to house physician practices and other medical services.
But it is the broader vision that has at least one Planning & Zoning commissioner thinking much bigger.
“This brings to mind a story about, years ago, a couple who wanted to do something innovative like this,” P&Z commissioner Jim Irving said. “They were turned down by several cities in the east and told to go west. They went to a little town called Palo Alto, and there in Palo Alto, Leland Stanford formed a university. That is about, to me, how exciting this is. It’s just amazing. What a tribute to staff that we could be Palo Alto. I’m just very excited about it, it’s a huge project, and what this project can do for our city and our state is unbelievable.”
Nathan Steele, the city’s Director of Economic Development and Legislative Affairs, agreed the project could have a far larger effect on the city’s economic development than a hospital-only project would.
“This project is expected to contribute to Maricopa’s economy in a variety of ways, not only creating construction jobs, but health-care jobs once the construction is complete,” Steele said. “Then, there are the ancillary jobs and development that follow, from restaurants to hotels or anything else that serves the area. We celebrate this project and all others that are progressing.”
