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photo by Marcus Frazier
James Adkins with McInnins Brothers Construction digs a ditch at the site of the Promise Hospital of Miss-Lou Thursday.
Workers on site at hospital
Published Friday, December 28, 2007
VIDALIA — Work began Thursday on what will eventually become the new location of Promise Hospital of Miss-Lou.
Workers dug a small ditch around the perimeter of the construction site, which has been marked off with flags since summer and has recently had trailers moved onto it by the construction company building the facility.
Even though site surveying has been done and some preliminary construction preparation is being done, ground has not officially been broken on the site.
Corporate spokesman for Promise Hospital John Kaye said in October the company plans to have an official groundbreaking ceremony, and Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the company is expected to announce when that ceremony will be soon.
“We are really excited about this new hospital,” Copeland said. “That’s about 150 jobs. It will have a tremendous economic impact on Vidalia.”
The city has been working with the healthcare company that operates Promise Hospital for approximately a year and a half to bring the project to fruition, Copeland said, and is expecting to see more construction in the medical field.
Promise Hospital of Miss-Lou — formerly Promise Specialty Hospital — is currently located at 6818-A U.S. 84, near Ferriday, and has 40 freestanding beds.
The new, 50,000 square foot location will be on the Vidalia Riverfront south of the Mississippi River bridge will have 40 private rooms and eight intensive care unit beds. Officials have said in the past they hope to see construction completed by December 2008. Promise is a long-term acute care facility.
Comments
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just cannot understand why the Riverfront has to be used for hospitals. This space should be for recreation, motels, shops and hotels. It just does not make sense to me.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 1:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree ntzmom55...
Build happier places on the riverfront, not hospitals.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hospitals on the riverfront for people HAVING happy times there already and getting hurt!! lol!!
Posted by Let_us_think (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does anyone build on the river side of the levee? Do they not realize they might be treading water one day? Might not construction change the stability of the levee? The highest point of the levee would be between the structures and Vidalia. Did the Corps of Engineers build that portion of the levee for show--or because they felt it might be needed one day?
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
here here!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just think of coastal towns Angiestaylor. They make their money building homes, condos ect with a water front view...I am yet to see a hospital on the beach! LOL
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I am not mistaken isn't this the area where the realy for life is usually held? Where will this event be held now? Why build a hospital near an ampitheater? It really hasn't had an use as of yet adn you can bet that with a hospital close by it never will. Does anyone realize the amount of wasted money that has gone into that ampitheather? It wasn't a complete lose until the hospital was scheduled to be built there.
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SOUTH of the bridge, myo.
Posted by Hunneebabee (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand that there will be more than medical jobs available at Promise, for instance there are clerks at the desk, workers preparing meals, and yes, janitors. What I can't understand is where the 150 jobs come from. In the first place, replacing the old facility means the people that work at the old facility will work at the new facility. In the second place, it will still be only 40 beds, replacing 40 beds.
If the old facility would still be in operation along with the new one, I could understand that there would be more jobs, but still not 150. Or did I miss something?
Don't get me wrong. I am not dissing Promise. I had an aunt to go there for 6 weeks for rehabilitation after open heart surgery, and they did a marvelous job with her. I am really concerned about the public being mislead with the joy of the new facility bringing on new jobs.
Posted by Let_us_think (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not an engineer, but the only engineer opinion I'm aware of is the Corps of Engineers when they built the levee. They build them as high as they do because they feel they might need them that high (or I hope that's why they do.) I guess it might not matter where things get built now as engineering is probably better than 40 years ago--but remember that a lot of jobs slid off into the river when Natchez Under the Hill went in. And I'm sure the Corps wishes they had built the levees higher or stronger in New Orleans.
Posted by Let_us_think (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the 150 jobs comment by the mayor is wildly overstated. I think he's talking about jobs that were 7 miles away toward Ferriday now being relocated to Vidalia. That's really not net gain for the area. I work with Promise regularly. There will be extra jobs over and above those present now at the hospital because the patient census will be higher--but 150 jobs? No.
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand that the hospital is being built south of the bridge. My point is that it is still in a close enough area for the patients of the hospital to be desribed if it is ever put to use. And can you imagine when the firewoks are done on July 4 and Ballon Race weekend. I hope they don't scare any of the elderly in the hospital to death. Did anyone really give this any thought?
Oh! Yeah! One other question? What about the potential crime rate int hat area? Don't try to tell me that there isn't any. If I am not mistaken someone was mugged at gunpoint at Slough Daddy's. Isn't that walking distance from where this hospital is going?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been wondering about everything that goes on at the riverwalk, the Christmas exhibit being first to come to mind. Do they really want recorded Carols over and over in front of the hospital with cars full of squealing kids driving by? What about the flea market during the balloon race or the relay for life? And most important of all whatever happened to the recreation facilities that were going to be built there in the first place. BTW does anyone know how high the river is now? The guage says 27' and rising, but it has been going up lately and I would guess at least 35' yesterday when we went walking. There is a lot of snow falling up north just waiting to melt and come down the river. LOL
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The NEW SHERIFF will handle the crime problem!
Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think a new hospital is great, really, but I too do not like the location. I think maybe out towards the new WalMart where there is nothing would have been a better choice....I'm just saying.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 28, 2007 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, thats basically where the old Promise Hospital is. And what about the nursing home next to it? Will it move also, or maybe take in the hospital facilities and enlarge.
Posted by Doddle (anonymous) on December 29, 2007 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The buildings on the river front were are built on elevated foundations. All based on a 100 year flood plain. If you will remember, before the Welcome Center was built, all that area was about 6" above street level. Dirt was hauled in to elevate the foundation for the building. As for Promise Hospital, when they move to the river front, the nursing home will stay where it is. It is owned by a local business man from Natchez, and he has the opportunity to buy that portion of the building, after Promise moves.
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