Mercy Hospital wants to expand

Grove neighbors received notices about a special hearing before the Planning, Zoning and Appeals board regarding Mercy Hospital's request for zoning changes. Neighbors within 500 feet of the proposed project were sent an "opinion card" to fill out showing whether they were in favor or against the project.

The plans call for an addition of 647,160 square feet of floor space to the existing hospital building of 673,176 square feet, while demolishing 151,827 square feet for a total of 1,168,509 square feet. Also they want to expand an existing parking garage of 292,060 square feet to 403,435 square feet, providing an additional 275 parking spaces.

Also, a new parking garage of 318,500 square feet is part of the plans, which would provide an additional 920 parking spaces in five levels and they also want to build a new three-story building of approximately 11,250 square feet for an energy plant to serve the new hospital towers.

The hearing date is Wednesday, January 19 at 7 pm, at City Hall (3500 Pan American Drive).

Of course the downside to all this is the additional traffic presumed to be added to the already maddening traffic that is a constant in that area on S. Bayshore Drive, especially at morning and rush hour times. Let the battle begin.