On Tuesday, Nov. 3 Marion County voters overwhelmingly voted to construct a new Wishard Hospital on IUPUI’s downtown campus, a project that will create an estimated 4,400 construction jobs annually and move Wishard’s life-saving services out of its physically declining campus, parts of which predate World War II.
“Over the past few months, our community was called upon to keep Wishard caring for us – to ensure quality care for all, to provide teaching for our state’s doctors, nurses, and physicians, and to protect and create jobs,” said Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard. “Befitting the population of a world-class community, today, the citizens answered the call. This project has united individuals of all beliefs and backgrounds and we as a City will undoubtedly benefit beyond the brick and mortar of a new facility. We are proud to be a partner in progress for this project and look forward to working together with Wishard as we build a better future for generations to come.”
In the election to approve construction of a new, modern and efficient Wishard Hospital, 55,504 of the 66,213 ballots cast were “Yes” votes for Wishard, an astounding 83.8 percent approval.
“Indianapolis is a compassionate and humane community. Wishard exists because of our community’s values. These referendum results confirm our city’s commitment to ensuring that all our residents have access to high quality health care,” said Matthew Gutwein, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County CEO. “A historic coalition came together to support Wishard. We are deeply appreciative of their leadership in supporting this project, and to the voters, who offered the most resounding confirmation with each of their sacred ballots, we offer heartfelt thanks.”
Approval of the construction project ensures a future for Wishard’s more than 4,000 workers and will also create more than 4,400 construction jobs annually, providing a much-needed shot in the arm to the building trades industry.
The project began moving forward right away as representatives of Wishard and IUPUI joined together on Wednesday to officially sign an agreement exchanging land for a new Wishard. The new Wishard Hospital will be build on the current IUPUI campus at the location of the former Larue Carter psychiatric hospital.
Demolition at the site could begin as early as next week, with construction set to begin in the spring and the project scheduled for completion in 2013. The new facilities will include a 303-bed hospital, outpatient clinic building, power plant, parking garage and facilities for medical evaluation and research.
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