Childrens Hospital To Remain In Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif Sep. 5, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- Officials announced Wednesday that Children's Hospital and Research Center will stay in Oakland. Officials announced plans to build a new facility right next to the old one, and ended the speculation they might move somewhere else.

Oakland resident, Aisha Jordan, brings her 3-year old daughter, Jordan, to children's hospital Oakland about once week. She did not want to see it move away.

"It would be an inconvenience like everybody knows that children's hospital is in north Oakland."

Hospital board chairman, Harold Davis, couldn't be happier.

"To remove 50-thousand emergency room visits, and 190-thousand in patient and out patient visits from this community would be disastrous and something we cannot afford to do."

Hospital officials said they studied over the past three years how to deal with the need to increase capacity, and satisfy the state's seismic safety requirements.

Oakland mayor, Ron Dellums took office amid rumors the hospital might leave town. He was relieved.

"It also speaks to the economic vitality and well being of the city of Oakland, and one of the industries that will be expanded going forward will be health care."

While there are no plans yet, hospital officials envision a world class pediatric medical center costing about 700-million dollars going up on land the hospital already owns.

"It's our job in the city to make sure that we facilitate; that we make things happen; that we make this process work for both the community and children's hospital", said Oakland City Council President, Ignacio de La Fuente.

The hospital will continue to be a regional facility with clinics like the one in Walnut Creek. They also have them in Pleasanton, Larkspur, and Brentwood and plan to open one in Modesto.

The hospital hopes to finance construction of the new medical center with state bonds, private donations and a parcel tax voters will have to approve next February.

Construction could begin as early as 2010, with the new medical center opening three years later.

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