Expressions of Interest to be called for the Grace General Hospital site

Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced that in the coming weeks, government will issue a Request for Expressions of Interest for the sale of the Grace General Hospital site, LeMarchant Road, St. John�s.

The purpose of this Expressions of Interest is for government to determine whether it should sell the site for re-development by the private sector or retain the site for re-development for future use by government.

Developers or other parties interested in an opportunity to purchase the former Grace General Hospital site (including the former nurses� residence) for re-development are encouraged to respond to the Expressions of Interest. A successful response to the Expressions of Interest may result in the Department of Transportation and Works approaching any one or more of the respondents for additional details, in an effort to make a decision regarding the disposition of the property.

In 2005, Transportation and Works contracted for the environmental remediation and demolition of a portion of the structures on site. Accordingly, the houses at 205 Pleasant Street and 203 Pleasant Street, the smoke stack, the 1920s section and the majority of the 1950s section of the former Grace hospital no longer exist.

Previous Requests for Expressions of Interests were issued in 2000 and 2002. None of the responses received were considered suitable at those times and all previous Expressions of Interest for this site are now considered as expired.

Media contact: David Salter, Transportation and Works, (709) 729-3015, 691-3577

BACKGROUNDER

The first Grace Hospital was constructed in 1922 and was known as the Grace Maternity Hospital. Major extensions were added in 1955 and 1965 and a nurses� residence was added in 1964. The facility is currently known as the Grace General Hospital and is owned by the Department of Health and Community Services (HCS) and was operated by the Health Care Corporation of St. John�s. Upon the facility being vacated, the Department of Transportation and Works became agents for HCS.

2006 03 02                         10:05 a.m.