Mentor hospital is on track

Groundbreaking for Cleveland Clinic facility in Newell Creek planned for spring

Cleveland Clinic’s Mentor hospital is on track to open in 2021.

It is among the construction projects highlighted during the Feb. 26 State of the Clinic address by CEO and President Dr. Tom Mihaljevic.

“Planning and design of the new hospital are underway and we are scheduled to break ground this spring,” said Kate McLain, a Cleveland Clinic spokeswoman.

Mihaljevic announced during last year’s address that the project would proceed as a hospital, versus an outpatient health center.

Cleveland Clinic acquired land at 8020 Center St. in December

2012 after the city Planning Commission approved an amendment to the Newell Creek development plan, allowing the substitution of a medical campus for a lifestyle center. Permitted uses include a hospital, heliport, hotel, office building, retail store, gift shop, floral shop and parking garage.

Five years ago, land was cleared for the project and, in late 2016, Cleveland Clinic signs were posted along Route 615 and Interstate 90 on the 47-acre property at the southeast corner of the Newell Creek development.

At the time, the proposal involved a facility similar to the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center in Avon with potential for a hospital addition in the future.

“We are excited to see the plans for Cleveland Clinic’s Mentor facility coming to fruition and look to further conversations and discussions with the Clinic in short order to move the project forward,” Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said.

Last year, Cleveland Clinic served 2.4 million patients, a 20 percent increase over the year prior, Mihaljevic said.