City commission approves plans for former Good Samaritan site

The city of Dayton is announcing plans for the former site of Good Samaritan Hospital.

News Center 7′s Mike Campbell was at Wednesday morning’s city commission meeting when city officials, with YMCA of Greater Dayton, revealed their plans to build a new YMCA facility of the site of the former Good Samaritan Hospital.

Commissioners approved the plans and the city’s $400,000 contribution to the project just before 9:30 a.m.

The Northwest Health and Wellness Campus will have a new 50,000 sq.-foot YMCA facility and a Premier Health Urgent Care Center. CareSource, Wright State University, County Corp, and Goodwill will be among the organizations that will have office spaces on the campus.

>> The city of Dayton is announcing plans for the former site of Good Samaritan Hospital.

The funding to help build this $17.5 million development will be provided through the Dayton Recovery Plan, the city’s plan to utilize American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr. told News Center 7 that this development shows a “continued investment in Dayton.”

“What’s important to me is that we’re finding more and more ways to address the needs of Dayton citizens,” Mims said.

Dale Brunner, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Dayton, told News Center 7 that he’s “intrigued to provide opportunity for kids and families in northwest Dayton.”

Brunner said YMCA wants to break ground on the facility next month, with the goal of having it open by the end of 2023. The facility plan includes a gymnasium, upstairs running track, four-lane pool and fitness center. The facility will become the seventh new YMCA facility in the Greater Dayton area in the last 20 years.

>> PHOTOS: City of Dayton, YMCA of Greater Dayton announce plans for former Good Samaritan Hospital site

Good Samaritan Hospital closed in 2018. Its closure was controversial as some people on the westside of Dayton believed it was leave them without adequate access the healthcare. At city commission, one member abstained from voting on the plan as it didn’t involve a hospital.

“I can’t do anything about what happened at Good Sam,” Brunner said. “The only thing I can tell you is that we’re going to provide a product that people will be proud of and we cannot wait to open our doors to provide that opportunity for them.”

The Northwest Health and Wellness Campus will occupy roughly five acres of the former hospital site. The remaining eight acres remain under consideration for potential redevelopment.

We’ll update this as we learn more.