Wellington Regional Medical Center has acquired 35 additional acres in Westlake from Minto Communities for the future development of a medical campus. The transaction closed Nov. 25. Terms were not disclosed.
The land is adjacent to a five-acre parcel on which the hospital built a freestanding emergency medical facility that opened to patients in April 2019. The ER at Westlake, located at 16750 Persimmon Blvd., provides emergency medical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week with eight exam rooms, three rapid medical exam bays, one triage room, on-site lab services and on-site radiological services.
Wellington Regional’s parent company, Universal Health Services (UHS), had an option to acquire the 35 acres when it closed on the land for the emergency room facility early in 2018.
“Due to the early success of the ER at Westlake, we decided to exercise our option and move forward with purchasing the additional land,” said Pam Tahan, CEO of Wellington Regional Medical Center. “The City of Westlake is growing faster than expected, and we want to be prepared to meet Westlake’s and the surrounding community’s healthcare needs as more people move into the area.”
Wellington Regional said it’s too early to determine how the land will be developed, but city zoning rules allow for medical-related uses such as a pharmacy, diagnostic testing, urgent care facility and an acute-care hospital.
“We commend Wellington Regional for having the vision to start planning now to meet the future demand for medical services in this part of Palm Beach County,” said John Carter, vice president of Minto Communities USA. “At the rate Westlake is growing, there will be a big need for robust and quality healthcare services in the area sooner rather than later.”
Minto has sold more than 420 single-family homes since opening Westlake in October 2017, beating expectations. Recently, the master developer/builder started selling Phase 2 of its second neighborhood, the Meadows, priced from the low $300s. Minto’s first neighborhood, the Hammocks, is near sell out. That sales velocity has propelled Westlake to become the fastest growing city in Florida, according to U.S. Census figures.
The 3,800-acre Westlake community is approved for 4,500 homes and more than two million square feet of commercial space.
Commercial development in Westlake is also well underway. Most recently, the city approved a 91-acre private college preparatory school and sports academy with the first phase of construction set to begin in January 2020. Adjacent to the school, Christ Fellowship Church has submitted plans to build a new 13-acre campus as it grows its ministry throughout Palm Beach County. FPL is finishing up construction on a new 400-acre solar energy center, while Palm Beach County will soon open a new fire station and district headquarters just off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. A new gas station and convenience store is set to start construction in 2020.
For more information about the community, call (888) 299-3628 or visit www.westlakefl.com.
