LAKEVIEW, Mich. — The land on which the recently-closed Kelsey Hospital stood will be sold to the Village of Lakeview for $1.
Corewell Health, alongside the Village of Lakeview, announced the ownership transfer Thursday.
The sale of the land will happen after Corewell Health removes any hazardous materials and demolishes the former hospital. Village officials determined that the old hospital building was not fit to be renovated or reused for other purposes.
Kelsey Hospital was in operation for around 60 years, earning its namesake from Dr. Lee Kelsey and his wife Lillian's in-home hospital. The Kelsey's saw patients at their home beginning in 1908.
“For more than 100 years, the Kelsey Hospital team cared for Lakeview area residents, and the hospital itself has been an asset to the community,” said Kristie Smith, chief operating officer, Corewell Health Greenville Hospital. “We believe transferring ownership of the land to the Village of Lakeview will allow the local community to decide how the land can best serve the community in the future. Corewell Health is committed to continuing to care for the community in our new Lakeview Care Center.”
Prior to the closing of Kelsey Hospital in October of 2023, Corewell Health opened a new care facility in the area.
In June of 2023, the Lakeview Care Center opened with outpatient rehabilitation, lab and walk-in clinic, and space for specialty care services. Lakeview Family Medicine also relocated to the new facility.
The land where Kelsey Hospital stood will be redeveloped by the village at their discretion. Village officials will work with developers and the community to determine what the property's future will look like.
“People don’t like change, especially when it comes to situations like this. Our community certainly is reeling from the emotions attached to Kelsey. I have been optimistic from the start and think everyone recognizes the importance and financial investment of the new facility out on M-46 is to our community. The Village is excited about embracing this new opportunity for growth in the community where Kelsey once stood,” says Darin Dood, the Village Manager of Lakeview.
Demolition of Kelsey Hospital is expected to begin in March and completed by early summer, Corewell Health says.
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