HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-79-0792•
GEORGE A, SIMPSON, M.D., E.A.C.S,
PEDRO G. VELEZ, MD., E.A.C.S.
P. A,
S U R G E R Y
1001 "NORTHWEST 54TN STREET
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33127
PHONE 754.3431
November 12,1979
Office of City Manager
Dear Sir:
I had requested that the personal appearance of the New
First Horizons Development Company on the agenda of'the City
Commission which had been scheduled for October 17 be post-
poned.
I am now requesting that this appearance be scheduled for.
the November 26,1979 mcteting.
Thankin you very much for your consideration.
/!.
• I_
George A. <SStmpson,
NEW FIRST HORIZONS DEVELOPMENT, INC,
1001 NORTHWEST 54th STREET
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33127
TELEPHONE (305) 754,3431
October 8, 1979
Honorable Maurice Ferre
Mayor, City of Miami
Dear Sir:
:.
crl
I take this opportunity to inform you and all of the members"of
our city Commission of a development in the Model City area.co
I am the Chairman of the Board of Christian Hospital, a smal
community hospital in the Model City area of Miami, at Northwest
32nd Avenue, and 47th Street. This hospital has been giving
service to the community continuously since 1920. I came to the
Chairmanship during a particularly difficult time, 3 years ago,
and with the help of sincere physicians in the community we
were able to stabilize the situation, and have supported the
hospital with patient input and financial help since.
The situation has improved but ourappraisal of needs and pro-
grams indicate that three things are necessary to continue the
service potential of the hospital:
1. Improved physical structure of the hospital,
2. Increase in bed capacity,
3. Improvement in the surrounding community in the
way of housing, business and jobs, as a stimulus
to growth and reversal of stagnation in the Model.
City area
We considered and decided to pursue a program of building a
community service based complex which would include:
1. Housing for the elderly,
2. Housing for famalies, including rent subsidy housing,
3. Business and commercial area to service the surround-
ing community,
4. Replacement of. Christian Hospital with a new 100
bed structure,
5. Small extended care facility close to the new
hospital,
6. Day care Center for children adjacent to the
elderly housing complex,
79-792
7. An H.M.O. organization, using the hospital as a
base and including the area physician, to
improve delivery of out -patient as well as in-
patient care at cost -saving rates.
We have hound the most feasible site for this community complex
to be the "Shell City" site, at NoW0 60th to 58th Street, east
of N.W. but is within the Model City area. This land is owned'
by the County, but is within the City of Miami.
As the First Horizon Development, Inc.," we have drawn up pre-
liminary plans for this complex, which have met with universal
favor at City of Miami and Dade County levels, both staff and
elected officials. Community Organizations have been approached
and we are seeking to inform all interested parties of our plans.
One area of concern is present. All hospital facility construction
must secure a certification of need from the State Health System
Agency, presentation as well to a local H.S.A. whcih reviews the
application. There has been a long constant history locally,
whcih really amounts to a philosophy, of denying applications for
new beds in Dade County, on the supposition that the area is
"overbedded." This may well be so, except that Jackson Memorial
Hospital is almost constantly at 100u occupancy, with long lines
at their clinics, and waiting lists for admissions. The poor and
Medicaid patients, of which Christian Hospital has always had a
high percentage, are not easily admitted to other hospitals, and
because of crowded conditions at Jackson Memorial, are often
denied hospitalization.
We therefore submit that for the unique situation of the great
number of poor and Medicaid type patients in the Model City area,
there are no superfluous beds, and this area needs the health
care and beds which would be afforded by an improved Christian
Hospital.
Christian Hospital is the only hospital in the Model City area,
and now consists of 45 beds. We are requesting of the H.S.A.
a certificate of need to move the hospital to a new site and add
only 55 additional beds. This would be a great advantage in
improving health care in the area especially to the poor and
Medicaid patients.
The complex of housing, commercial and hospital facilities would
create at least 500 jobs in the area, which is now blighted, and
stimulate the development of new business and building, bringing
new people into the area. Any project of this sort needs the
help and support not only of the residents of the area but of all
of our elected officials. We would appreciate, and the area
will benefitfrom your strong support of this project.
We request therefore an early placement on the Commission agenda
so that we may further inform you.
Yours truly-,
George A. Simpson, M.D.
cc: Commissioners Gibson
Gordon
LaCasa.
Plummer