ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital announced Wednesday, Oct. 22 that it sold the Frenchtown Township property on which it once planned to build a new hospital.
The 275-acre parcel at 1500 N. Dixie Highway was sold to Frenchtown Charter Township. The township said it will determine uses for the land and is welcoming residents’ input.
The property was once home to the River Raisin Golf Course.
ProMedica, according to Monroe News archives, purchased the property in 2016 and originally planned to break ground on a new hospital the next year. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed building, but the plan was still in place in 2021, ProMedica told The Monroe News.
In August of 2023, ProMedica announced plans for a new hospital were canceled. Instead, the Toledo-based health care system said it would invest in an expansion and renovation of its current hospital at 718 N. Macomb St. in Monroe.
“ProMedica instead decided to focus its resources on investing in its current hospital campus on Macomb Street, which is more centrally located within the county,” ProMedica said in an Oct. 22 news release. “Over the past few years, ProMedica has undertaken several improvement projects on the existing hospital campus, made possible by its capital investment of approximately $12 million. Recent enhancements at the hospital include a new procedure suite, advanced robotic technology and medical equipment and expanded access to care.”
“Investing in the existing hospital campus not only meets the community’s desire to have the hospital in the city of Monroe, but also helps to ensure the long-term stability and viability of the hospital,” said Darrin Arquette, president of ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital. “Given our current strategy, it made sense for ProMedica to sell the former golf course property, and with Frenchtown Charter Township taking ownership, we are confident the property will be redeveloped with the community’s best interests in mind.”
Kyle Bryant, Frenchtown Charter Township clerk, said conversations about the property are underway.
“Frenchtown Charter Township is extremely grateful to ProMedica for their cooperation and ongoing commitment to working with the township to ensure the responsible development of this property,” Bryant said. “Their continued partnership has allowed us to focus on creating a plan that truly serves our residents. We’ve already begun the community engagement process and are eager to expand those conversations in the months ahead. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strategically and thoughtfully plan a space that could include a combination of uses — all designed to enhance quality of life and strengthen our community for years to come.”
“I encourage anyone with questions or ideas to contact the township board at Board@frenchtownmi.gov as we continue shaping the future of this site together,” Bryant said.
The sale price was not immediately available.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: ProMedica sells its 275-acre parcel to Frenchtown Township
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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