CHESAPEAKE
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters will build a $24 million, 60,000-square-foot health care facility in the city's Oakbrooke Business and Technology Center, near the intersection of Battlefield Boulevard and Kempsville Road.
It could open in December 2009 and will house a primary care pediatric practice, a sports medicine gym and a sleep studies lab, among other things, according to a Monday announcement from the city.
The new, three-story building will consolidate services currently done in leased space on Volvo Parkway and Kingsborough Square, according to the release.
"Demand for CHKD services in Chesapeake continues to grow," Jim Dahling, CHKD Health System president and CEO, said in a release. "As a result we needed to increase our space and facilities to provide the kind and quality of services families in Chesapeake expect and deserve."
Chesapeake has the second-highest number of children in the region, with approximately 20 percent of the South Hampton Roads pediatric population, said CHKD public relations manager Greg Raver-Lampman. At CHKD's Chesapeake locations, patient visits increased from 41,666 in 2005 to 55,545 in 2007, a 33.3 percent increase, he said.
Construction on the new facility began recently on a 6.7-acre site on Discovery Drive.
Along with the primary care pediatric practice, the new building will have clinic space for pediatric medical and surgical specialists, according to a city news release. The health center will also have an aquatic therapy pool.
Hospital officials will have room to expand on the property to accommodate increasing demand.
"I'm glad they chose Chesapeake," said Mayor Alan Krasnoff. "It's excellent for our children."
Steven Wright, Chesapeake's economic development director, said the deal has been in the works for several months. The Oakbrooke park is not full, and Wright hopes to have more announcements soon.
He said CHKD liked the location because it is close to both the Greenbrier and Great Bridge areas. "They can reach their market and expand into new markets, as well," Wright said.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com