Houston Methodist sets sights on Cypress
The system’s ninth hospital is planned along U.S. 290 in area expected to grow almost 9 percent over the next five years
After a decade of population growth along the U.S. 290 corridor, Houston Methodist has purchased land in Cypress to build its ninth Houston-area campus.
Houston Methodist President and CEO Marc Boom felt this was the right time for the investment.
“We look forward to bringing our promise of leading medicine by adding a hospital to a rapidly growing area, and we understand the importance of offering comprehensive services in areas such as cancer, heart, neurosciences, woman’s services, orthopedics and sports medicine,” Boom said. “The population of this area is predicted to grow almost 9 percent over the next five years, and we are committed to providing the highest quality care, like we have for more than 100 years.”
Debra Sukin, regional senior vice president for Houston Methodist, said they have been studying the Cypress market for some time. They have two primary care practices in the area already, she said.
The decision comes based on where the needs were across the Houston area and based on population growth where Houston Methodist can have the greatest impact on the community, Sukin said. Cypress met that criteria.
The new campus will be built on a 106-acre spot previously owned by Sysco Corp and used as their administrative operations. Houston Methodist has been in negotiations for the land over the last six months. According to the Harris County Appraisal District website, the property is valued at $28.4 million.
The land is prime real estate with 1,550 feet of frontage along U.S. 290 according to JLL, the commercial real estate firm marketing the site.
The new hospital, situated on the east side of U.S. 290 between Barker Cypress and Skinner roads, will be modeled after greenfield projects Houston Methodist West and Houston Methodist The Woodlands hospitals.
Details on a construction date and costs are still being worked out and won’t be available until the fall. Anticipated opening of the hospital is projected to be in 2024.
The plans call for a 400-bed facility surrounded by several medical office buildings, a parking building and a helipad to provide support for the hospital. Sukin also said there would be enough land leftover for expansion.
“We study what the needs of the market are and then we build our collective service lines around those needs. As we begin to put together that strategic plan, that’s what will drive the hospital programming,” she said.
The economic impact on the community will also be significant.
“When we talk about employment, we know that to open a hospital and medical campus we will be employing at a minimum of 500 employees. We’re proud to play a role in job growth in a community and what it means in the community market and economic growth,” the regional senior vice president said.
Sukin said by this fall, the Methodist team will be willing to talk more about the capital investment and about the economic impact.
This will not only be the ninth hospital in the Houston Methodist system, but the third in Houston in the last decade to build as a greenfield project, meaning from the ground up versus purchasing an existing facility like their Clear Lake campus.
“Houston Methodist is excited to participate in the economic development of the growing Cypress and North Houston community with medical and hospital staff job growth,” Boom said. “We are committed to sharing our vision of unparalleled health care with the Cypress community.”