Demolition plans announced for shuttered Atlanta Medical Center in Old Fourth Ward
Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center Downtown in Atlanta (FOX 5).
ATLANTA - The Integral Group, in partnership with Wellstar Health System, has announced the selection of Ferma Corporation to oversee the next phase of redevelopment for the former Atlanta Medical Center campus. Ferma will lead the effort alongside local firms Trinity Green and Atlanta Demolition.
The initial phase will focus on demolishing unsafe and unusable facilities, including the circular parking structure on the northern boundary of the site. Preliminary environmental and site preparation activities are set to begin in February, with visible demolition planned to start in late March, pending permit approval. The demolition phase is expected to conclude by late 2025.
What happened to Atlanta Medical Center
The backstory:
Atlanta Medical Center, which was one of only two Level 1 trauma centers in the region, closed on Nov. 1, 2022, due to financial troubles, according to Wellstar. They also closed Atlanta Medical Center South, on the outskirts of the city, a few months before.
Wellstar obtained the 460-bed facility in Atlanta's historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood in 2016. The hospital, which originally opened more than a century ago, served area residents who were mostly poor and Black. Wellstar also closed or relocated more than a dozen other facilities affiliated with the medical center. The closures had a direct impact on the local residents, hospital employees and remaining hospitals and staff.
The decision to close the hospital was initially widely criticized by Atlanta politicians, with Mayor Andre Dickens saying the choice left an "open wound in the heart of this community."
In response, Gov. Brian Kemp boosted funding for Grady Memorial Hospital, and they added additional inpatient beds and hired former surgeons from AMC, primary care physicians and supporting staff to handle the influx of new patients.
Initially, the City of Atlanta placed a series of zoning moratoriums on the property while it evaluated redevelopment options. Wellstar says a land-use plan was unanimously approved by the Atlanta City Council with the support of Mayor Andre Dickens.
The closures of the hospitals and other facilities are part of a much larger pattern of urban hospital closures across the United States. Additionally, multiple rural hospitals have also been disappearing over the past few decades.
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Safety, Sustainability, and Local Impact
What we know:
Ferma Corporation’s commitment to sustainability and safety will guide the demolition process, according to a press release. The company claims it will implement eco-friendly techniques to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact, alongside robust safety protocols to protect workers and the surrounding community.
The project will also emphasize economic benefits for the local community by hiring and training local workers. Measures will be taken to manage noise, dust, and traffic during the demolition phase to minimize disruptions to residents and businesses.
Preserving the Past, Building the Future
What's next:
The redevelopment plan will reportedly reflect a balance between honoring the site’s history and embracing future growth. Wellstar and The Integral Group aim to embed the site’s cultural legacy into the design of new spaces while fostering inclusivity and connectivity.
According to Wellstar's announcement in October, the 22-acre site will include affordable housing, residential properties, community and public green space, neighborhood-level retail, new street access, commercial uses, and health and well-being resources.