Construction is under way on a new medical office building at Chesterton's Coffee Creek, but community builder T. Clifford Fleming sees the foundation of something far greater.
The new two-story, 32,000-square-foot building is just the latest step in the creation of a regional health care campus unlike anything else in the area, he said.
The 114-acre campus, located at Ind. 49 and the Indiana Toll Road, already is home to Lakeshore Surgicare, an outpatient surgical center, and the Lakeshore Bone and Joint Institute.
Fleming is looking to attract a wider-than-usual variety of health care interests, including facilities involved in research, academics and technology. He also has his eye on the potential for a new county hospital as is called for in the proposed sale of the existing facility.
"I would love for the hospital to be part of the regional health care campus," he said.
James Gierczyk, who last year purchased most of the 640 acres in Coffee Creek Center, told The Times last week a hospital deal is being pursued for the site.
Fleming said he has not been involved in any of those talks, but he has heard more than one health care system has shown interest in the site.
Fleming, who has teamed up with Chicago-based HSA PrimeCare, is no stranger to developments in the area. He was behind Sand Creek and Coffee Creek in Chesterton, numerous medical buildings in Porter and Lake counties, and most recently the Village of Burns Harbor residential development.
As with his earlier projects, Fleming said he has an overall plan in place for the regional health care campus that includes guidance with architecture and placement of buildings. The site already is permitted for the proposed medical uses, infrastructure is in place and it is easily accessible, he said.
The two existing medical facilities at Coffee Creek, which are owned by local physicians, have created more than 100 jobs, Fleming said. Between 50 and 60 new jobs are expected with the new office building.
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