As part of its expansion in the Bay Area, the University of Texas Medical Branch has signed a letter of intent to lease the former Bay Area Regional Medical Center building, according to a UTMB press release.

The 373,000-square-foot medical center at 200 Blossom St., Webster, closed unexpectedly May 4 after its owner, Medistar Corporation, filed bankruptcy, an employee told Community Impact Newspaper. The facility opened in 2014.

UTMB leaders will work with Bay Area physicians to find the best way to use the property, according to the release.

An opening date and lease cost are not yet known, but the lease includes the building and all the equipment inside. The building is 40 percent owned by Medistar Corporation and 60 percent owned by a real estate company, said Steve Paterson, League City Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO and president.

“This is a unique opportunity for UTMB Health to advance our mission of education, research and patient care,” university President David L. Callender said in the release. “The Webster location will complement our existing facilities on our League City campus and in surrounding areas as well as our future plans for education and research activities in the Bay Area. Together, these facilities will enable us to broaden our efforts to serve a rapidly growing region while supporting our academic work to define the future of health care.”

Bay Area Regional Medical Center officials did not return multiple requests for comment.

UTMB will continue its plans to expand its League City campus hospital at 2240 S. Gulf Freeway, which includes an emergency room, mother-baby unit and medical and surgical services for adults. The expansion includes the addition of five levels and 60 hospital beds, bringing the total up to 97 beds, and is expected to be complete by May 2020. About 740 spots were added to the parking garage by early July.