AdventHealth Planning Hospital In World Commerce Center In St. Augustine

AdventHealth plans to develop an 88-bed hospital and office space on land it purchased within World Commerce Center in St. Augustine, according to a letter from St. Johns County Growth Management.

Through AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway Inc., the health system acquired three parcels from World Commerce Center LLP for $13.4 million on February 5. The deed did not specify the exact acreage or location for development.

World Commerce Center, a Development of Regional Impact, spans nearly 1,000 acres off Interstate 95 and World Golf Parkway, roughly half a mile east of Florida 16. AdventHealth purchased land in Parcel M, a 21.5-acre area located north of Florida 16 along International Golf Parkway. This site is near the planned Walmart Supercenter and various outparcels, opposite Tocoi High School. It’s also 2.3 miles southwest of major retailers like Buc-ee’s, Costco, and Bass Pro Shops.

In a letter dated December 20, St. Johns County Growth Management Assistant Director of Transportation, Dick D’Souza, informed Audrey Gregory, executive vice president and East Florida Division CEO of AdventHealth, that the county was aware of plans to build a hospital on the site known as Parcel M. The letter, addressed to Gregory at Memorial Health Systems Inc. (which shares an address with AdventHealth Daytona Beach), also included AdventHealth’s Director of Strategic Real Estate, Keith Lowe.

AdventHealth, also operating under the name Memorial Health Systems Inc. (MHS), began acquiring Memorial Health System hospitals in 2000, including Florida Hospital Flagler, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, and Ormond Beach, rebranding them in 2018. The letter notes that upon purchasing the land, AdventHealth will have the entitlement rights to construct 249,800 square feet of office space, including an 80-bed hospital and 80,000 square feet of office space for lease to independent physicians.

The county also acknowledged that World Commerce Center would allow AdventHealth to pursue additional development rights directly with the county’s master developer. The letter further outlines that AdventHealth plans to develop the site as a healthcare facility and campus, potentially including a hospital, off-site emergency department, helicopter landing site, medical office, retail, and other related uses. This development is consistent with the zoning for the property.

According to the World Commerce Center website, land there is designated for residential, office, medical, retail, warehouse, and hotel developments. The site is owned by Jacksonville-based Steinemann & Co. Real Estate. The county stated that AdventHealth’s next step will be to submit an application for an Incremental Master Development Plan, which allows for large-scale projects to be developed in phases. This application doesn’t require a public hearing, as it will be reviewed by staff along with necessary engineering and construction plans.

AdventHealth, headquartered in Altamonte Springs, was founded in 1973 and reported $18 billion in revenue in 2023. It operates across nine states, with facilities primarily in Central Florida, including 51 hospitals and numerous care sites. In September, AdventHealth announced plans for a 12-bed off-site emergency department in St. Johns County, set to open in 2026. Located on a 10.75-acre site off north Florida 207 near San Juan Road, the site is about 1.6 miles northeast of Interstate 95.

“Growing with our communities is a core priority for AdventHealth,” Communications Manager Michelle Bartlome said. “As we explore opportunities to create new access points to healthcare services, we often evaluate properties in various markets for both short- and long-term opportunities.”

Bartlome did not provide a development timeline or site plan for the project.

AdventHealth has had a presence in Flagler County for more than 20 years, investing over $200 million in the county’s healthcare infrastructure in 2023.

Source: Jax Daily Record