Plans are looking up

for central Eugene hospital
Eugene city councilors made progress last week toward getting a second hospital in Eugene after passing a resolution supporting the construction of a hospital on the downtown side of the Willamette River and offering incentives to attract a hospital to the area.
The council hopes to lure a hospital within a 2.25 mile radius of Second Avenue and Chambers Street, which is south and west of the Willamette River. The incentives for constructing the hospital may include assistance with clearing land for construction and providing a “facilitator” to act as a liaison between the city and the hospital to help find a suitable site.
The council also tentatively approved an ordinance to revise zoning codes to make hospital siting easier, but sent it back to the city attorney for adjustments. The ordinance will be voted on later this month.
Ward 3 City Councilor David Kelly said the ideal location for a new hospital would be “close to the central part of the city.” Kelly added that a centrally located hospital would make access to medical services easier for many community members.
Kelly said the city would provide incentives for building a hospital near the center of Eugene because the area is more difficult to build in than in the outskirts of the city. Some of the challenges included clearing old property to build over, buying land from multiple owners and fostering a good relationship with the surrounding neighborhood, Kelly said.
McKenzie-Willamette Hospital has expressed interest in moving to Eugene and providing a full-service medical facility. The health care provider currently operates a hospital in Springfield.

— Sho Ikeda