Bon Secours Planning Large Investment in Chesterfield

New Watkins Centre ambulatory care campus projected for 2011

A new $30 million Bon Secours ambulatory care campus will bring an influx of capital investment and 100 new jobs to northwest Chesterfield County in addition to increased availability of ambulatory services for the county’s fast growing population.

The new campus of Bon Secours will be located at Watkins Centre, at the corner of Route 288 and Midlothian Turnpike, just 4.5 miles from Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center. Scheduled completion for Phase I of the project is 2011.

“We are very pleased to make an announcement that will have such a tremendous economic benefit to the county,” said Art Warren, chairman of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors. “Bon Secours’ development adds important healthcare services for the community, creates a substantial number of jobs, and is strategically positioned to be a success for both the health system and the county.”

Bon Secours at Watkins Centre will be built in phases with Phase I consisting of 100,000 square feet of space that includes a freestanding emergency department, a comprehensive diagnostic imaging center and a physician medical office building which will house primary care, obstetrics and gynecology and internal medicine physician practices.

When Phase II is completed, the total medical campus will consist of some 200,000 square feet of space. Plans for Phase II are still under development.

“Chesterfield County has been a great partner; we worked closely in selecting the Watkins Centre property for development,” said Peter J. Bernard, chief executive officer of Bon Secours Virginia. “We have done our due diligence on this project and expect all of our services to be at or near capacity soon after operations begin.”

According to Chesterfield Country officials, the Midlothian area surrounding the Watkins Centre is expected to grow significantly in the next 10 years, creating a need for more medical services to accommodate the growing population.

The northwest part of the county, where the Watkins Centre is located, will service three large residential and commercial areas of Chesterfield as well as Powhatan, Goochland, and Western Henrico counties.

The Watkins Centre, already under development, has room for 2.5 million square feet of office space, 200,000 of which is already developed and 1.3 million square feet of retail space, 900,000 of which is already developed. “This area is one of the key gateways to the future economic growth of Chesterfield County. This project is a perfect fit and we’re excited about the continued investment of Bon Secours in our community,” said Jay Stegmaier, County Administrator for Chesterfield County.

“Adding 200,000 square feet of medical facilities is a key element of the Watkins Centre,” said Sen. John Watkins, who represents Chesterfield County. “Bon Secours is integral to the property’s development and compliments everything we are trying to accomplish in Chesterfield. The health system’s St. Francis Medical Center has already been a tremendous asset to our residents and the new development will serve us well.”

Bon Secours is a not-for-profit Catholic health system with four hospitals in the greater Richmond metropolitan area; St. Mary’s, Memorial Regional, Richmond Community Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center, as well as Bon Secours Medical Group which is composed of more than 40 physician practice groups.