BIRMINGHAM, AL -- Trinity Medical Center today filed of a Letter of Intent with the State of Alabama Certificate of Need (CON) Board for the relocation of Trinity Medical Center to what is known in the Birmingham Region as the “280 Digital Hospital.”

Trinity’s decision to relocate to the 280 site keeps Trinity in close proximity to its staff, patients and physicians; makes emergency and other medical services more accessible to the region’s population; and utilizes an existing – but vacant – one million-square feet of commercial real estate. The project allows Trinity and its ancillary businesses to remain within the City of Birmingham and allows hospital relocation to occur quickly. The project is also much less costly than the previous proposal and promotes an environmentally conscious development that minimizes additional construction impact.

Original developers of the 280 site successfully received community support and State approval for the facility when it was deemed necessary to fulfill medical needs for residents in the 280 Corridor area.  Though development of the state-of-the-art facility began in 2001, construction stalled in 2003 and the building was never completed.  The 280 Corridor is one of the busiest in the state, and several hospital operators have sought approval to build micro-hospitals with access to Hwy 280.

“Today we are ensuring that Trinity Medical Center will remain a part of Birmingham.  By securing this deal, we will also develop one of the most important pieces of property in the City and secure the jobs that go with it,” said Mayor Larry P. Langford.

Trinity is prepared to commit the resources necessary to complete the full-service medical center concept the community desired.  In so doing, Trinity will expand its reach into this underserved section of the county and will continue to support physicians and clinicians in the area.

“This building is a wonderful asset for the entire region as well as an accessible, highly visible location for a community medical center. We’re excited to be able to revitalize this property to its best use,” said Trinity Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Bill Heburn. “We look forward to completing negotiations with the property owners and to filing our formal request for a Certificate of Need.”

Former owners of Trinity originally planned to relocate the hospital to property off I-459 in the Grants Mill Road area, and had worked with Irondale city leadership on those arrangements.  With today’s filings, Trinity remains committed to working with the community in identifying appropriate use of the I-459 property to complement Irondale’s future growth.

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