September 1, 2024 - MADERA, CA. – Valley Children’s Healthcare is excited to announce plans for “The Hill,” a vibrant, 443-acre mixed use community designed to enrich the lives of patients, families, staff and the broader community. This new development will bring together healthcare, housing, retail, recreation, office space and hospitality, all located on Valley Children’s main campus.
When complete, The Hill will integrate five districts – including retail, hospitality, recreation and residential – that surround the Healthcare District, which includes Valley Children’s Hospital and River Vista Behavioral Health, along with clinical, research and administrative facilities.
“Our patients and families need more than a hospital and we need to ensure there is a sustainable financial future for Valley Children’s,” said Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak. “The Hill is the perfect expansion of our main campus, designed to meet the needs of our patients and families, support our dedicated team and ensure a sustainable future for Valley Children’s.”
This new, multi-faceted community will provide the resources required to sustain and grow Valley Children’s world-class pediatric healthcare network far beyond what the hospital will receive in reimbursement from state/federal programs and commercial insurance payouts. According to a report published by The Advisory Board, 117 acute care hospitals closed across the United States between 2018 and 2023, with many occurring during the pandemic, and just last week, Becker’s Hospital Review reported 19 hospitals and emergency departments have closed nationwide so far this year. In California, rural communities have been particularly hit hard, with several hospitals closing – including Madera Community Hospital – or facing closure.
This trend underscores the importance of initiatives like The Hill, whose revenues will support hospital operations and patient care. This development will also contribute to Madera County’s economy, bringing new spending, tax revenue and additional tourism.
“I believe it is a brilliant idea to enhance revenue at Valley Children’s for those services necessary to take care of kids, and Madera County is excited about the opportunity to help Valley Children’s move forward with this development,” said Madera County Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Poythress. “It is always about the care – that is number one. But it is also about supporting employees and residents in the area.”
The Hill’s residential district will include up to 450 studios, and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as townhomes in a wellness-centric natural environment. The retail district will incorporate more than 30 shops in a village-style environment, including a grocery store, lofts above retail spaces and other retail essentials. The Hill will also feature a series of planned scenic walking paths connected to larger areas and venues for different activities.
“We have spent the last decade creating a solid financial foundation for Valley Children’s, one that’s absolutely vital in an era when so many hospitals in the Valley have had to sell, reduce services or close,” Suntrapak said. “The Hill is a community that supports healthy living, the health of Valley Children’s and the care we provide to kids and the entire community.”
Source: Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, CA.
