Developers want to return healthcare services to vacant Illinois hospital site

Alyssa Rege -

A group of developers have interest in bringing healthcare services back to the facility that once housed Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora, Ill., which has sat vacant since the hospital relocated in 1995, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

The Aurora City Council recently approved a six-man investment group's plan to restart healthcare services at the facility, allowing them to begin construction on the facility as early as next week, with an expected completion date in 2021. 

It is unclear who would operate and manage healthcare services if the site is revived.

"This part of Aurora that Copley left behind has turned into a desert for medical services," Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin told Crain's. "Our hope is to bring back a healthcare facility there, among other things."

Mr. Irvin and the developers said they have several healthcare-related ideas for the former hospital, including turning part of the facility into an urgent care center, building a house for senior citizens and adults with special needs, or adding an ambulatory surgery center with some retail shops, the report states

The developers estimate the rebuilding effort may cost close to $100 million, and hope to use historic tax credits to fund a significant portion of the project, along with some private investors.

Copley Memorial Hospital occupied the hospital site in Aurora until 1995. That year, Copley Memorial became Rush Copley Medical Center under an affiliation with Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center. The hospital then moved to its current location in Aurora, on Ogden Avenue. Mr. Irvin told Crain's he has only had preliminary discussions with some Rush administrators about reviving the former hospital facility, and that developers plan to reach out to other organizations.

"At the present time we have no plans to provide medical services at this location," a Rush spokesperson told Crain's.

To access the full report, click here.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 with changes made to the headline and first paragraph. An earlier of this version of this story ran under the headline, "Illinois hospital may reopen after 13 years" was errorneous in years and in not clearly communicating the distinction between a hospital reopening versus developers returning healthcare services to a vacant hospital site. Becker's regrets the error. 

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