Politics & Government
Cunningham Urges Hospital to Reconsider Plans to Demolish Palos Fitness Center
Opposition grows to Palos Community Hospital's proposed plan to demolish fitness center to make way for a new medical building.
CHICAGO— Senator Bill Cunningham (18th District) sent a letter to an official at Palos Community Hospital urging the hospital to reconsider its current plans to close Palos Health and Fitness Center and attempt to protect the facility and the services it provides.
“This facility provides unique services that many in the community utilize to leading a healthy lifestyle,” Cunningham said. “I respectfully ask that Palos Community Hospital reconsider their decision or find a way to continue to provide this excellent service to their community.”
Members of the fitness center at 153rd Street and West Avenue were recently notified that the facility would shut down May 1. The facility, which is run by Palos Community Hospital, was set for demolition to make space for a $133 million hospital office building.
Cunningham said the facility offers many opportunities for residents to continue on a path to recovery from an illness or injury. It also allows many to be able to continue on a path to living a healthy lifestyle by offering many services including medical programs and nutrition training.
Proposed plans call for a four-story, 107,760-square-foot medical office building with offices, diagnostic and treatment space for medical specialties. A 16,000-square-foot, three-story building connection will join two existing office buildings and the new medical facility, Daily Southtown reported.
Also proposed is a 125,000-square-foot below-grade parking garage, and other site improvements. The hospital has submitted a project plan to the Illinois Health Facility Services Review Board this month, the newspaper said.
The hospital needs to gain approval from the health facility review board before it can proceed with its project plan.
Cunningham recently opposed the proposal to close the community health and fitness center over an approval to build a new office building instead.
READ SENATOR CUNNINGHAM’S LETTER
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
