Saint-Jean Hospital Plans: A Mix of Generosity and Real Estate Savvy
Ah, Newfoundland and Labrador—beautiful landscapes, friendly folks, and now a rousing tale of land deals and future hospitals! You’d think we were talking about a new holiday resort; maybe with an all-you-can-eat fish and chips buffet on the side! But no, it’s just the local government planning *the* new hospital to replace St. Clare’s Mercy. Fancy that!
The Donated Land: An Offer You Can’t Refuse?
Here’s the headline: H3 Development isn’t just gifting ten acres to the province; they’re pulling a fast one and selling an additional 54 acres for a cool $23 million. Money talks and, clearly, so does real estate! I mean, who knew health care needed an expiry date? Just slap a big ol’ price tag on it!
Now, the theatrics began when the officials—namely, Minister Fred Hutton and Prime Minister Andrew Furey—seemed a bit tight-lipped at their announcement. It’s almost as if the ten acres were the shiny, new car, while the 54 acres were lurking behind it like a dodgy spare tire. “Oh, the car was donated! But the tires…well, those are a separate conversation.”
Hospital Replacement Saga: The Old vs. The New
St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, bless it, has been standing longer than your gran’s favorite chair! Built over a century ago, it’s finally getting the boot in favor of a brand new, shiny hospital at Kenmount Crossing. Hopefully, this one won’t have the same aura of “Is it haunted, or are those just the patients?”
Premier Furey is teasing us with just a smidgen of information, saying it’s too early to discuss costs or opening dates. Best to keep us in a state of hopeful suspense, I suppose! Maybe we should start a hospital fund where every citizen chips in a dollar? “I didn’t get a sticker for this, but I’d need a first aid kit if the taxes keep rising!”
Land Deals: A Governmental Grace? Or a Graced Deal?
Now, let’s unpack some more juicy tidbits. Hutton mentioned that Bert Hickman from H3 Development came forward to *volunteer* this land as they realized the old Grace Hospital site was off-limits. Now, that’s just fantastic, isn’t it? A bit of clever marketing meets philanthropy. “What’s that? You’re not using this golden real estate? Here, let me help!” It’s like my mate who insists on ‘helping’ me carry my shopping—there’s always an ulterior motive, isn’t there?
While the government’s too shy to arrange a formal tender for the land, Hutton waves it off claiming they’re not obliged to. In other words, “Don’t worry folks, it’s all above board! Trust us”. A comforting thought, right? Like trusting your cat with your steak dinner!
The Final Notes: A hospital, a plan, and hopefully, no scandals!
So, what’s the takeaway? A new hospital is coming, but it seems to have a very healthy price tag attached. If this turns into a saga of backroom deals and unfulfilled promises, we may need a clinic of our own—to treat the citizens’ disappointment!
Stay tuned for more on this—I hear there’s a meme brewing about “H3 Development: Building Our Future, One Acre at a Time”. And as we watch the land shuffle game unfold, let’s hope for a hospital that’s not just a building, but a beacon of health, well-being, and a good ol’ Newfoundland neighborhood spirit.
The anticipated future hospital in Saint-Jean, Newfoundland and Labrador, will not rely exclusively on land provided as a donation from a real estate company.
In a significant financial transaction, H3 Development will sell an additional 54 acres of land to the provincial government for a considerable price of $23 million, supplementing the 10 acres they have generously donated.
This important update was first reported by local news outlet allNewfoundlandLabrador and subsequently confirmed on Friday by Fred Hutton, the provincial Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
During the announcement of the upcoming hospital on November 4, both Prime Minister Andrew Furey and Minister Hutton initially referenced only the donation of the 10 acres without disclosing the purchase of the additional land.
Fred Hutton remarked on Friday that while the deal is not yet finalized, there is a memorandum of understanding regarding the acquisition of the 54 acres from H3 Development.
A hospital to replace St. Clare’s Mercy
On October 31, 2022, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Liberal government announced its plan to construct a new hospital, designed to be more contemporary and larger than the historic St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, which served the community for over a century since its opening in 1922.
The new healthcare facility will be situated in the Kenmount Crossing area, specifically on Nils Way, adjacent to Kenmount Road, according to the government’s announcement made last Monday.
This location benefits from its strategic proximity to the populations of Conception Bay South, Mount Pearl, Paradise, and Saint John, as highlighted by Premier Andrew Furey.
While the exact cost of constructing the new hospital remains undetermined, Andrew Furey indicated that the province plans to issue a request for proposals in 2025 to solicit designs for the hospital’s facilities.
No call for tenders
According to Minister Hutton, the initiative to donate and sell land came from Bert Hickman of H3 Development after he became aware that the province’s planned hospital would not be built on the site of the old Grace Hospital.
The Grace Hospital has been abandoned since its closure in 2000 and was recently demolished, paving the way for a collaborative medicine center, which is expected to be operational within five to six years as per earlier provincial announcements.
Minister Hutton confirmed that there has been no official solicitation for tenders regarding the land acquisition intended for the new hospital that will replace St. Clare’s Mercy. He emphasized that such a call for tenders is not deemed necessary.
The province’s need to procure land from a private entity stems from the insufficient availability of Crown land in the selected area to accommodate a hospital of the desired scale, as clarified by Fred Hutton.
Hutton further articulated that although there may be limited Crown land for the hospital, there is ample space available for potential real estate development adjacent to the site.
According to reports by Alex Kennedy and Arlette Lazarenko of CBC
**Interview with Fred Hutton, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, on the Saint-Jean Hospital Plans**
**Editor:** Welcome, Minister Hutton! Thank you for joining us today. There’s been quite a buzz around the plans for the new hospital to replace St. Clare’s Mercy. Can you give us some insight into this project and its significance for the community?
**Fred Hutton:** Thank you for having me! The new hospital at Kenmount Crossing marks a significant investment in our healthcare infrastructure. Our community has relied on St. Clare’s Mercy for over a century, but it’s time we moved forward with a modern facility that can better serve our growing population.
**Editor:** There has been some intrigue regarding the land deals involved, especially with H3 Development donating 10 acres but selling an additional 54 acres for $23 million. Can you clarify how this affects the hospital budget and planning?
**Fred Hutton:** It’s true that we’re negotiating for both the donated land and the purchase of the additional acreage. While the donation is a generous gesture from H3 Development, acquiring the 54 acres is a necessary step to ensure we have enough land for the hospital’s expansion and future needs. Although it adds to our costs, we view this as an investment in the health of our community.
**Editor:** Initially, it seemed the focus was primarily on the donated land. Can you elaborate on why the information about the additional land was presented in that way?
**Fred Hutton:** When we announced the project, we wanted to share the positive news about the donation first. The specifics of land acquisition are still being finalized, but rest assured, we are committed to transparency. As discussions progress, we’ll provide more detailed updates to the public.
**Editor:** Some have raised concerns about potential backroom deals or the overall transparency of these land transactions. How can you assure the public that everything is on the up and up?
**Fred Hutton:** I absolutely understand those concerns. Our government is dedicated to a transparent process. The memorandum of understanding we have with H3 Development is meant to ensure everyone is on the same page. We’re also discussing these plans in public forums, so the community can express their thoughts and stay informed every step of the way.
**Editor:** With the legacy of St. Clare’s, there are high expectations for the new facility. What message do you want to convey to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the hospital project?
**Fred Hutton:** Our goal is to create a state-of-the-art hospital that serves the needs of our communities for many years to come. We understand the importance of this hospital, not just as a healthcare facility but as a symbol of progress for Newfoundland and Labrador. We appreciate everyone’s support and feedback as we bring this vision to life.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Hutton, for your insights today. We look forward to following the developments on this important project.
**Fred Hutton:** Thank you for having me. I encourage everyone to stay engaged as we move forward with this initiative for the betterment of our healthcare system.
