Third Coast In The News

Women's health center planned for NE side, work to begin in late summer on center that will bring together services under one roof. Editorial, The Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Mich., A.1, May 6, 2005

A group of at least 18 doctors is planning a regional women's health center to anchor a new development near Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus.

The West Michigan Women's Health Center -- to cost $15 million to $20 million -- is designed to bring a diverse group of doctors specializing in women's health issues under one roof.

It is expected to be a major component of Mid Towne Village project, a mixed-use development covering more than two blocks where dozens of homes were bulldozed last year.

The center would bring together experts in oncology, fertility, gynecology and other specialties in a 75,000-square-foot, four- story building overlooking Int. 196 at the end of Union and Dudley avenues.

Early drawings of the building, designed by architect Rich Craig, also show a multilevel, partially underground parking ramp.

Commercial real-estate agents David Levitt and Brad Rosely coordinated the purchase of the land and are among the investors in Mid Towne.

The deal for the doctors' group buying the site for the health center is being coordinated by Tim Kwekel, of The Kwekel Cos.

The steering committee for the women's health center effort includes Drs. Adam Blickley, of Newton, Frank & Blickley; Rodman Taber, of Knollcrest OB-Gyn Associates; Douglas VanDrie, of Grand Valley Gynecology; and Douglas Daly, of Grand Rapids Fertility and IVF.

Several hundred health-care workers could be employed in the building and other medical offices in the village area.

The move will help centralize services for women in West Michigan and bring the doctors closer to Butterworth Campus, where most perform deliveries and surgery, Blickley said

"Our patients are the ones that benefit," he said. "They won't have to be scattered around town as far as specialty services or ancillary services."

The doctors will benefit by consolidating some administrative services and spending less time shuttling between more distant offices and the hospital, Blickley said.

The move was partially driven by Spectrum's decision to concentrate most of its women's health services, including its birthing unit, downtown by eliminating them at its Blodgett Campus in East Grand Rapids.

Construction is expected to begin in late summer or early fall, with completion set for 12 months to 15 months later.

The project is subject to approval by the city's Planning Commission. The proposed office building is larger than the one included on an earlier plan for the village.

Plans are moving forward to develop 21 townhouses and additional commercial office and retail spaces, although no other buyers or tenants have been announced, Rosely said.