Massive ‘healthcare village’ in Nevada touted as world’s largest healthcare project

Touted as the world’s largest healthcare project, the 170-unit, $1.2 billion Union Village finally broke ground on October 8 in this Las Vegas suburb.

The village, which has been in the works since 2010, is set to start construction early next year, with the first building being an acute-care hospital on 38 acres, according to the Las Vegas Journal-Review. The Valley Health System purchased this land for this facility, which will be its sixth hospital in the state.

The complex is slated to include a 315-bed hospital, and 200-bed nursing facility with long-term acute care, Alzheimer’s care, and assisted living, Healthcare Finance News reports. The hospital and medical center are scheduled to open in late 2016, according to the Journal-Review.

The goal of this village, according to its website, is to create a live-work-play environment that integrates world-class healthcare with retail, entertainment, cultural and residential centers. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who attended the groundbreaking, calls the village “a Gateway between the city of Henderson and all of Nevada.” And its medical facilities will provide all levels of healthcare whatever the age of the patient.

In April 2011, the city of Henderson approved an agreement to sell a 151 acres of city-owned property for this project for $11.6 million, according to the Las Vegas Sun’s website. At the time it quoted David Mathis, president and CEO of the Nevada Health Care Alliance, who said Union Village would provide a much-needed boost to medical infrastructure in Southern Nevada.

Craig Johnson, a senior living veteran of 20 years and the founder of Union Village, said the village would consist of four parts: the medical facilities in Union Centre; retail, offices, and residential apartments in Union Plaza; a senior community in Union Place; and a civic and cultural center in Union Park.

The buildout is expected to take a decade, reports Healthcare Finance News. The project will create 5,000 construction jobs and 12,000 healthcare and retail jobs, as well as contribute $5 billion to local and state coffers through income and property taxes over its anticipated 80-year lifespan.

Housing for 1,000 seniors will be built, along with at least 350 market-rate condominiums, Johnson told the Journal-Review. The village complex is also expected to include a movie theater, health club and hotel.

The Building Team includes: Hammes Company, Haskell, HKS, Juliet Cos., and Penta Building Group.

Boyd R. Zoccola is Chair and Chief Elected Officer of BOMA International. A BOMA member since 1994, he has served on the Executive, Finance, Investment, and Medical/Healthcare Facilities Committees. An Indiana Real Estate Principal Broker and a board member of the Real Estate Round Table, he is Executive Vice President of Hokanson Companies, Inc., of Indianapolis, and has been involved in the development of $600 million worth of real estate. On a volunteer basis, Zoccola was president of Horizon House and a board member of Girls, Inc. He holds a BA in biology from Indiana University.