St. Francis Downtown Hospital annexation to add 27 acres to Greenville city limits
Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown Hospital is on its way into Greenville city limits after Planning Commission approved the healthcare system's annexation request Thursday night.
The historic hospital, which celebrated 90 years in January, petitioned to annex the rest of its nearly 21-acre campus into the city this month. A portion of the property was already in city limits.
The land will be zoned for office and institutional district use. Approximately 6.35 acres of right-of-way will also be annexed. The land is worth $3.5 million, according to Greenville County property records.
Planning Commission unanimously approved the request. City Council will have to give final approval on the annexation next, likely at their meeting Feb. 27.
St. Francis has been at 1 St. Francis Drive in Greenville County since February 1932, when the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor acquired the downtown hospital from the Salvation Army for $55,000. The first patient was seen July 18, 1932, according to a hospital press release.
The hospital has seen a handful of renovations. The most significant update came in 2021 when Bon Secours built a larger emergency department. The expansion from 18 to 42 rooms was to accommodate the area's growing demand for emergency services.
Greenville Fire Department will serve annexed St. Francis Hospital
Annexation is generally considered a win-win for petitioners and city officials. The hospital will have access to city services and infrastructure, while the city will get more property taxes and land value.
St. Francis Downtown will be the third hospital facility to be annexed into the city. St. Francis Eastside, located at 125 Commonwealth Drive, and Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital at 701 Grove Road have both been annexed in.
Bon Secours representatives declined to comment on why the hospital pursued annexation. City officials have not respond to questions.
City planning and zoning staff recommended the commission approve the annexation request. While MetroConnects, a sewer sub-district, already provides sanitary sewer services to the hospital, the city would provide fire response services, according to the agenda packet.
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The hospital — located in the Sterling Special Emphasis Neighborhood — would be rezoned for an OD district, which is "intended to provide for a wide variety of professional and business offices and institutions," according to city code. While residential uses are allowed in OD zoning areas, this district is different from the city's other commercial districts in that, in most cases, retail sales are not allowed.
Once the city's new development code is adopted, the property will be zoned "CM – Campus," meaning it will allow for larger lots, more open space and large buildings. Mixed-use development and technology hubs will be allowed under this designation, too.
St. Francis handles more than 50,000 annual visits. Their facilities host a 245-bed hospital and the St. Francis Outpatient Center. Their services include:
Emergency services
Heart care
Heart surgery
Inpatient cancer services
Bone marrow transplantation center
Orthopedic surgery
Osteoporotic fracture program
Spine surgery
Neurosurgery
Radiology and imaging services
Sleep center
Outpatient surgery
Laboratory services
Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter @maconatkinson.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Downtown Greenville SC hospital annexing into city limits
