IU Health moving to construct new offices in Fort Wayne

By Rosa Salter Rodriguez | The Journal Gazette

Part of the plans for Indiana University Health's growing presence in Fort Wayne are in an application for a medical office building at the intersection of Hadley and Illinois roads.

Greenstar Development LLC, Lake James/Angola, has applied for a development standards variance to allow the office building to be more than three times larger than the 22,500 square feet allowed under the property's limited commercial designation. The two-story office is designed as having 70,900 square feet.

While not specified on the application, the building's use is affiliated with the Indianapolis-based health system's expansion into the Fort Wayne area market, planning officials confirmed. A sign touting IU Health is posted on the property.

IU opened a primary care medical office at 7230 Engle Road this month. Eventually that office will have 17 staff members including doctors, physicians' assistants, nurses and support personnel.

A report to potential investors lists the Hadley Road site as having a primary care and imaging clinic and eventually employing six physicians and four advanced practice providers. The possible investment was listed as $3.7 million.

The opening in that report was projected for April 2019, but the application projects the completion date as by the end of 2019.

Jeff Swiatek, an IU Health spokesman, said Wednesday afternoon he was unable to confirm the planned use for the building or associated costs.

According to Department of Planning Services records, the location has a complex history. The site was proposed as a shopping center in 2015 and medical uses were barred in a written commitment signed by property owners Scott and Robin Lougheed.

Neighbors at an Aug. 13 meeting of the Fort Wayne Plan Commission agreed to amending the written commitment to allow a medical office. Fort Wayne attorney Rob Kruger, representing the developer, said the other retail uses would remain allowed.

The measure passed the plan commission and no further action is needed, he said.

The new variance will take the form of another written commitment amendment, he said. It is scheduled to have a public hearing before a hearing officer at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 12.

Other possible IU medical facilities outlined in the report to investors include a north side primary care office, a primary care and imaging clinic on the northeast side, inpatient surgery centers on the northeast and southwest side, and three urgent care centers.