Attorney Rolan Young, Cornell Scott CEO Michael Taylor, and Cornell Scott Director of Purchasing & Facility Development Shawn Galligan.
649 Howard Ave.
Cornell Scott Hill Health Center won a key city approval for its plans to build a new 31,000 square-foot, 52-bed substance abuse treatment center on Cedar Street in the Hill.
That approval came at last Wednesday night’s regular monthly City Plan Commission meeting on the second floor of City Hall, where a majority of commissioners voted in support of the city’s plans to sell two publicly-owned parcels at 649 Howard Ave. and 659 Howard Ave. to the community health center. Three voted in the affirmative, while one abstained.
The health center doesn’t plan on putting the new $20 million “wellness center” on those properties, Cornell Scott CEO Michael Taylor said, but rather needs them to provide access to property they already own at 232 – 236 Cedar St., which is where the new building will actually stand. The in-patient treatment center is slated to replace Cornell Scott’s current 40-bed service in a city-owned building at 60 – 62 Grant.
“The plan is to take these two parcels and combine them with adjacent properties presently owned by the Hill Health Center,” Berchem Moses attorney Rolan Young said, “and they’re going to be building a $20 million, 40 to 50-bed recovery and wellness center on the site.”
“This parcel is needed for access to what we already own,” Taylor added, “which is on Cedar. The property would be contiguous all the way to Howard.”
According to the City Plan staff report on the proposed land disposition agreement, the city plans to sell the two parcels, totaling 11,258 square feet, to Cornell Scott for a combined sum of $125,000. One of the Howard Avenue parcels is currently a vacant sliver lot, Young said, while the other houses the former Hill Development Corporation building.
The proposed land sale now proceeds to the Livable City Initiative (LCI) Board of Directors for another vote, and then on to the Board of Alders for a final vote.
Commissioners had previously tabled the item due to a concern that Cornell Scott had not done enough community outreach on this project before proceeding to secure the necessary city regulatory approvals.
“We have been present at a number of community meetings since this item was last booked,” Taylor said. Cornell Scott representatives have spoken to neighbors and presented at management teams about this project, he said. The applicants provided three letters of support for the land disposition and for the broader substance abuse center construction project.
One of those letters was from Hill North Alder Ron Hurt, who represents the ward where the new center would be place.
“Cornell Scott Hill Health Center does outstanding work here in the 3rd Ward,” Hurt wrote in his letter, which is dated May 17, “and I fully endorse the efforts of this outstanding non-profit organization to purchase this lot in order to facilitate its construction of a new 31,000 square foot Recovery & Wellness Center adjacent to South Central Rehabilitation Center.”
Click here to download the health center’s full application to LCI for the Howard Avenue land purchases. This application includes Hurt’s letter of support.
No Input From Neighbors
City Plan Commission Vice Chair Leslie Radcliffe with Chair Ed Mattison and Westville Alder Adam Marchand.
While City Plan Commission Chair Ed Mattison, Westville Alder and City Plan Commissioner Adam Marchand, and commission Alternate Kevin Diadamo all cast votes in favor of the proposed land sale, commission Vice Chair Leslie Radcliffe did not.
She abstained from the vote. And even exited the room while the applicants made their presentation.
“Before we go on, Mr. Chair,” Radcliffe said as the applicants introduced themselves, “I am familiar with this project. It’s come before the management team. I’ve been involved in several meetings and, because of that, I’m going to recuse. And I’m also going to step out of the room, because my participation as a resident has been very heavy.”
Radcliffe, a longtime resident of the Hill and active member of the Hill South Community Management Team, then exited the room, asking with a smile for the team to let her back in when the discussion was over.
Miguel Pittman and Hector Miranda.
After the three remaining commissioners took their vote as the meeting passed 11 p.m., two Hill neighbors who had sat through the entire five hour-plus meeting spoke up.
“Does the public get an opportunity to speak?” asked Miguel Pittman, who lives on Orchard Street and co-runs Sandra’s Next Generation soul food restaurant.
“Not at this time,” Marchand said. This item was not a public hearing, he said, but rather a referral from LCI’s Property Acquisition and Disposition Committee.
After the City Plan Commission takes a vote, city Deputy Director of Zoning Jenna Montesano said, the item then proceeds to the LCI Board of Directors and then to the full Board of Alders. There should be an opportunity for public input somewhere along that route, she said, and promised to follow up with more details on when and where exactly that public hearing would be.
“That meeting with LCI,” Stevens Street resident Hector Miranda said, “we would like to be there.”
Furthermore, he said, “I do not want this project” on Cedar Street. As he was about to expand on that sentiment, Marchand interjected. This isn’t a public hearing, he repeated. But this item will next go to LCI and the Board of Alders.
“Among all those meetings,” he said, “there ought to be an opportunity for you to weigh in.”