UMMC plans R’land facility
RIDGELAND — The University of Mississippi Medical Center and Kerioth Corporation plan to bring a new medical facility here just off of the interstate near the Washington Monument cell tower.
UMMC purchased the property on Colony Park Boulevard for $14,253,045 in January of this year following approval from the IHL Board of Trustees.
On Tuesday, the Ridgeland Mayor and Board of Alderman approved a petition by the Highland Colony Land Company, Kerioth and UMMC to close and vacate certain parts of rights-of-ways on the property in a 6-0 vote at their regular meeting on Tuesday.
Alderman Chuck Gautier, who works with Kerioth, was absent.
Public Works Director Alan Hart said the motion would eliminate platted streets, alleys and rights-of-way the city has potentially planned for the area.
“We have no current uses and no potential uses for these streets and alleys,” Hart said.
Alderman-at-Large D.I. Smith said Wednesday that he did not have “exact details” on what they were planning to build on-site and that anything he said would be “speculation” before any drawings or site plans have been submitted to the city for review.
The petition submitted by UMMC and Kerioth states they want to “develop the property in a manner that will significantly enhance and contribute to the local economy.”
A document from the IHL board concerning the purchase of the property says that the “surgical capacity” at the UMMC Jackson campus is “quite limited, which also constrains teaching opportunities” and the new property will allow UMMC the opportunity to “increase academic opportunities for students and trainees in facilities with healthcare settings that more closely match those of the providers in which many will eventually be employed, outside the academic medical center setting.”
The subject property does not have a specific address at this time but a legal description of the property has it situated on roughly 36 acres near the intersection of Colony Park Boulevard and the I-55 Frontage Road with Highlands Presbyterian Church and Highland Colony Baptist Church.