Southfield Looks to Draw Medical Wellness Center

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Following several health care-related investments in Southfield, a medical wellness center may be just what the city needs for continued growth. To that end, the Southfield Downtown Development Authority has joined with local employers and organizations to lead a feasibility study for such a facility.

“We believe that (a medical wellness center) is a natural progression for all of the health care-related activity that’s going on here,” says Al Aceves, executive director of the Southfield DDA.

Referencing examples including the Beaumont Health and Wellness Center in Rochester Hills, Aceves says the center would complement the growth that has occurred in the Southfield DDA’s boundaries over the last few years, Aceves says. From 2011-2013, the health care sector drew nearly $95 million in capital investments in Southfield, creating 910 new jobs and retaining 1,300 jobs.

The partners for the study — including St. John Providence Hospital, Health Alliance Plan, Oakland County Medical Main Street, Farbman Group, and Solo Development — are an added bonus. “It demonstrates that they believe this area has some viability. It suggests to the smaller entrepreneurs, retail outlets, and restaurants that there’s a lot of activity going on here,” says Aceves.

The phase one study is expected to take about 60 days and, if market demand is present, will be followed by a second study to determine details such as possible locations and services. 

“Our goal here is to create a daytime and nighttime population so that we can support retail growth in the area,” Aceves says, noting that improvements to public infrastructure are also helping that cause.

“We’re undergoing new construction on Greenfield Road, and we just finished resurfacing Nine Mile Road,” Aceves adds. “Next year, we’re going to look at Northwestern Highway. I think all of that just helps support our stakeholders’ beliefs that this is the area they should be in.”