HB 2510 could aid KGH in getting new hospital built sooner

Monday, March 8th, 2010

HB 2510 is headed to the governors desk for signature this week could potentially save Kennewick General Hospital millions and make the construction of their new hospital in the Southridge area a reality as soon as this summer.  In a short summary, the bill would allow hospitals to use the land they currently own as collateral towards the financing needed for construction.  Ground breaking this summer is the hope for the district.

Build it, and they will come?

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Is this the latest mindset for the council members of Kennewick regarding the Southridge development? It may well work providing the economy holds here, however there is also the possibility that building new infrastructure on the hopes that is spurs new development will fail, and all you have left is a bunch of roads that lead nowhere among the sagebrush.

The anchor to the Southridge development is Kennewick General Hospital’s new 490 million facility, which all of the city’s hopes are hinged on. It is their vision that new commercial and residential development will blossom around the hospital, which could also generate an estimatated $40 million in revenue.

Kennewick is 1 of 5 cities in Washington that was chosen for the Local Revitilization Financing Program, which could bring $12.5 million to the city over 25 years.

So it begs the question, is this the best use of the funds for our city? The discussion among council members continues, and most likely will for some time to come. Personally, this writer thinks its a great idea and that it will entice new developers to come in, but that’s just my humble opinion.