A new multi-million-dollar hospital complex could soon be built in the expanding Plex area of northern Bettendorf.
If all goes according to plan, several new medical buildings will be located on the southwest corner of Forest Grove Drive and Middle Road, just south of the TBK Bank Sport Complex. The project could be completed in 2026.
Genesis Health System has submitted a request to rezone 51 acres of land from A-1 Agricultural/Urban Reserve District to a Urban High-Intensity District for the hospital complex. The Bettendorf City Council will hold a public hearing and first reading on the rezoning request at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at city hall, according to Mark Hunt, the City of Bettendorf’s community development director.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, Aug. 21, reviewed the rezoning request and has recommended its approval. Also, a neighborhood meeting was held Sunday, Aug. 11, regarding the hospital complex project and included city staff in attendance, according to information from the city.
“We are excited to continue to realize tremendous growth in the Middle Road, Forrest Grove corridor. The addition of the Genesis medical center complex, and the assorted other commercial uses that will accompany the same, will be a welcomed addition to area. Increasing the critical mass of daily employees in North Bettendorf will only help the restaurants and shops thriving at The Plex and those coming on board soon,” Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher told the QCBJ in an emailed statement on Wednesday.
The plan submitted by Genesis includes a hospital, health care center, medical office building, medical facility, off-street parking and commercial retail space, according to city council documents.
The proposed hospital complex is a “major job-creating industry for the city, and enhancing community character with improved health services making Bettendorf a great place to live,” according to information presented to the Bettendorf City Council from city staff.
City officials said that if approved, the 51 rezoned acres will be used this way:
- 52,000 square feet for medical/healthcare services
- 98,000 square feet for medical office
- 187,000 square feet for a hospital
- 55,500 square feet for commercial retail/restaurant
- 300,000 square feet for a parking garage.
Genesis officials on Wednesday, Sept. 4, would not comment on the cost of the project, the number of jobs that might be created or other details associated with the proposed hospital.
“We are committed to enhancing our regional care model and consistently look for ways to improve how we serve our patients. The Bettendorf property offers MercyOne/Genesis options to enhance our care model for Eastern Iowa. Since this is very early in the planning process, any additional comment is premature at this point,” according to a statement from Genesis emailed to the QCBJ on Wednesday.
The hospital complex is being planned for a section of northern Bettendorf that continues to grow and attract more businesses. In fact, a new restaurant called Plus Saporis Mediterranean Latin Cuisine had its grand opening on Tuesday.
Dozens of other businesses have opened around the TBK Bank Sports Complex. Some of those new or in-the-works businesses include: a new $18 million SpringHill Suites by Marriott now under construction, Iron Tee Golf, and ORA, which is building a new $50 million state-of-the-art clinic and outpatient surgery center. A second sports complex also is under construction. Work has started on a new sports building – that will be 112,000 square feet and cost about $13 million – to be built next to the Iron Tee.
