Public hearing begins for proposed Methodist Hospital at site of Bellaire’s former Randall’s

The city of Bellaire is edging one-step closer to securing Methodist Hospital and three other retail buildings within the confines of its downtown commercial corridor.

The new medical office building and the retailers would take the place of a former Randall’s across Bissonnet Street at 5130 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire.

Existing buildings on the approximately 3.19-acre site, the former Randall’s and a small one-story commercial building occupied by a Subway restaurant would all be demolished, according to city documents.

Page Southerland Page Inc., on behalf of Methodist Hospital, presented to the Bellaire Planning and Zoning Commission March 9 its latest on the project. A preliminary presentation of the development was first presented during a Sept. 8 planning and zoning meeting. Since then, the development has been updated in size and scope from what was a five-story structure, according to city staff.

Overall, the new proposed project includes three one-story retail buildings and a three-story medical office building with an attached two-story parking garage and an additional subsurface parking level on the approximately 3.19-acre site, according to the commission’s agenda packet.

Houston Methodist officials stated in its presentation that it plans to offer more primary care; specialty care; and ancillary services, such as palliative care, home health and dialysis, among others, to the Bellaire community.

The project would also create at least 360 new parking stalls, a proposed green space that would function as an outdoor gathering space. The number of total jobs that would be created with the new buildings was mentioned in the agenda packet. Residents are invited to the March 9 public hearing at Bellaire City Hall, located at 7008 South Rice Ave., for comment.