Valley Ranch Medical District, a new 186-acre master-planned health and wellness epicenter, has plans to fill a void in the historically “medically underserved” community of East Montgomery County, officials said.
The medical district will be constructed within the 1,400-acre master-planned community of Valley Ranch located near the intersection of the Grand Parkway and Hwy. 59.
“As one of the fastest-growing corridors and at a critical location, the need for new facilities is immediate and the potential for a higher density of health care than our plans is quite realistic,” Signorelli Company Marketing Coordinator Alyssa McGuire said.
McGuire said the Signorelli Company, the project’s developer, is in the process of installing road and utility infrastructure for the development. The company issued a request for proposals to academic and health systems in November and plans to select Phase 1 partners over the next three months. Construction on the district’s buildings will begin as facilities are designed and permitted.
A projected completion date for the medical district has not been released, she said.
Additional health care resources are needed as the population of the Lake Houston area north of Kingwood continues to grow, said Rick Hatcher, president of the East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
“The fact that we have two major hospitals in this area and more medical options coming—with this being another viable option—has a great impact,” Hatcher said. “More people creates more need.”
The new medical district will have more than 1 million square feet of health care developments and provide care for the residents in East Montgomery County and the Hwy. 59 corridor, who have limited options, McGuire said. It is anticipated to offer a broad range of specialties including cardiology, orthopedics and oncology, as well as women’s and children’s specialties, and primary care.
The medical district could also provide an economic boost, Hatcher said.
“It will be a great impact; anytime a big industry enters our market, every dollar is turned over seven times,” he said. “Anytime you have facilities like that, it provides a greater opportunity to attract new businesses.”
Compared with a similar-sized corridor, Hwy. 59 between the Grand Parkway and Beltway 8 has two hospital systems, while I-45 has 14 hospitals between Conroe and FM 1960.
“The medical district will have major impacts to the surrounding community from substantial job growth to tax base supporting Montgomery County and local schools to creating another anchor and regional draw,” McGuire said.
Additional reporting by Chris Shelton
