by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – As Mercy Hospital works through the process of getting approval for an expansion north into the Forest Park Neighborhood for a new energy center, some neighbors are not thrilled with the prospect of the project moving forward.
According to preliminary site plans, 1st Street SW would be re-routed north and roughly 10 homes owned by Mercy would be moved, salvaged or demolished to make way for a new energy plant and docking area for trucks.
See Mercy’s preliminary plans for this project, here.
Read more about the project in an earlier story, here.
Mercy needs to acquire no more property in order to move forward with this project. “We are re-organizing what we already have,” according to Hal Hudson, Mercy Construction Services Director.
Neighbors in attendance at a June 28th neighborhood meeting expressed many concerns. They asked if any other sites had been looked at for the project. Hudson said yes, but the preferred location in the plans he presented was ideal due to the proximity to current utilities on Mercy property on its north side. He explained it is cost-prohibitive to build the energy plant farther away from current utilities.
One man in the audience at that meeting said to Mercy officials, “I feel like we are collateral damage.”
Now, the fate of the project will be in the hands of the pro-business Mason City Council, who must approve new zoning in the area for the project to move forward.
Neighbors are organizing ahead of the September 4th City Council meeting where the council will hear about the project and likely vote on the zoning on a first reading, with more votes likely to follow.
A petition is being circulated by some citizens in the neighborhood to be signed by anyone opposed to the Mercy Hospital expansion project.
Neighbors say you can sign the petition by emailing here: forestparkmc@gmail.com. Arrangements will be made to bring the petition to those interested so they can sign it.
The information posted below is being circulated in the Forest Park neighborhood by concerned citizens.
I live in the affected area. When you move by a hospital, you’ve gotta know there is a chance of this kind of thing happening. Residents should start asking about the fence options they are going to build and get on them about that. This is more than likely going to happen.
” Mercy has all the power as the city’s largest employer and probably taxpayer.”
Largest employer? Yes. Largest taxpayer? No. While many of the 107 parcels they own are taxed, many others are not. I saw at least four or five 40 acre tracts taxed as Ag land. As properties around the expanding hospital are developed, they are dropped from the rolls (read: the new parking lot across from Walgreen drug).
One company in town owns 133 acres within city limits, with some exceptions, they are taxed by the state.
Try writing a letter to the editor about anything negative Mercy does..I used to work there the Globe would never print anything against Mercy
When will the city grow a pair and tell that crooked sorry excuse for a hospital no more expanshion until they put up a parking ramp. Just look at all the property they already own that could be developed if they were forced to put a ramp instead of kicking people out of thier homes.
Look back in the past. Has anyone ever won against Mercy. NO
I’m no fan of Mercy but the organizers of this petition need to suck it up and move on.
Mercy Hospital was in there first. Prior to making a Purchase Offer, most residents of the area where informed by responsible realtors of Mercys general master plan and their desire for land acquisition related to the development of their health care interests. In fact many abstracts even as far away as the Wildwood Addition contain languafe related to Mercys desire to acquire and expand.
This argument is akin to purchasing a piece of property near a railroad and then complaining about the noise of the whistles, traffic and such.
Finally, I feel your pain.
Responsible realtors? Hold on while I stop laughing.
Responsible or not, if realtors choose not to inform buyers and sellers of conditions that impact the property they are on the hook for damages. If that’s the case, perhaps the property owners have some recourse with their realtors.
But c,mon. They purchased property directly across the street from Mercy, right in the path of expansion. What were they thinkin?
Sir,….I live in the effective area. Mercy has told no one what there master plan is.
Well good luck fighting this one. Mercy has all the power as the city’s largest employer and probably taxpayer. Also, the mayors wife works for Mercy so which way do you think he will go. It will probablt be another rubber stamp deal with just enough protest to cover their butt. Mason City wants to be a big BLUE ZONE city but they want to cut down more trees and eliminate walking area’s. Yea, that makes sense.
Honestly Mercy Hospital is ridiculous!!!