By Adrienne St. Clair for Arizona Builder’s Exchange

Banner Health has submitted a zoning change and plan approval to build a physical rehabilitation hospital just east of the southeast corner of 7^th and Willetta streets in Phoenix.

The project, called Banner Health Acute Inpatient Rehab Hospital, will “improve site conditions and expand medical facilities in the area,” according to the proposal. The development will be part of the Banner University Medical Center campus on McDowell Road in Phoenix.

The new three story, 71KSF building will be built on 2.5 acres and will have 60 beds. The project is valued between $15M-$25M. The surrounding area includes offices and a parking lot to the north and medical offices and a parking garage to the west. Interstate 10 borders the land on the south. On the eastern edge of the lot are other Banner University Medical Facilities.

The project requires a zoning change from a Multifamily Residence District designation with a special permit to an Intermediate Commercial designation. Banner Health’s proposal also includes a height waiver to allow a height of 48 feet.

The proposal notes that the request for rezoning is strengthened by the project’s connection to the Banner University Medical Center, an established medical campus in Phoenix, as well as the project’s consistency with the goals of the Good Samaritan Area Redevelopment Plan that was adopted by the City Council in 1980.

Additionally, while the request includes a height waiver, the building currently on the site exceeds the limit of 30 feet. The new rehab hospital wouldn’t exceed 56 feet, the maximum height allowed by the zoning ordinance. Also, like other Phoenix hospital campuses, many portions of the Banner University hospital campus have high rise entitlement.

This rehab hospital will be one of four inpatient rehab hospitals in Phoenix and 38 physical therapy centers in Arizona that are combining operations as part of a joint venture between Banner Health and Select Health. The deal also includes constructing three new similar rehab hospitals to be finished by next year, two of which have already been announced in Sun City and Gilbert. (AZBEX, Jan. 12)

The healthcare providers announced the partnership in January of this year. Banner Health will be the majority owner while Select Health will manage operations. The two partners have big plans for expanding Arizona health care facilities.

“Future plans involve consolidation of the existing hospitals into the new state of the art facilities designed to better serve the needs of patients requiring care resulting from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, amputation, neurological disorders, among other conditions,” a press release said.

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