Planned neuroscience facility gains steam

Martin Health System, which wants to build a $30 million neuroscience facility near its Tradition Medical Center, cleared its first hurdle Monday night with the Port St. Lucie City Council.

Unanimously, the council agreed to a 10-year property tax exemption as well as a reduction to impact fees, all in an effort to help secure Martin Health System’s expansion in the city and not elsewhere.

According to city documents, Martin Health estimates the city’s tax exemption would save $1.3 million over 10 years. How much would be forgiven in impact fees was not stated in the documentation.

Martin Health System President and CEO Rob Lord reminded the council that the not-for-profit medical system did not ask for help with construction of Tradition Medical Center nor its two related medical office centers nearby.

This – the Neuroscience Center of Excellence – is a different facility, one that will take a few years to complete and bring in patients, Lord said.

This is “a rather modest ask,” Lord said of the request, adding that they will have to go to the St. Lucie County Commission as well.

“We’ll have an ask of them, too.”

The facility itself will require an estimated $8.5 million for construction and another $21 million for equipment. On top of that, the 150 new jobs will have an average (non-doctor) salary of $55,000.

In all, Martin Health System is looking at a $57 million overall investment.

“We will incur substantial cost,” said Maria Colby, Martin Health’s director of strategic planning.

Martin Health System moved into Port St. Lucie in the early 2000s with the plans for Tradition Medical Center.

“Together, we’ve been able to accomplish great things,” Colby said, addressing the City Council. She asked the council to consider helping Martin Health System now, which would help Martin Health to continue being a resource for residents.

Lord told the council the Neuroscience Center of Excellence would be a regional draw, attracting patients along the Treasure Coast.

While they could have expanded the Back and Spine Center in Stuart, Lord said the Port St. Lucie population’s needs would not have been adequately addressed.

Colby explained that stroke is the No. 5 cause of death in the U.S., and of the region’s counties, St. Lucie has the highest mortality rate – 39 deaths per 100,000 population. She added that 42 percent of the inpatient cases Martin Health sees come from St. Lucie County.

“This is something we would market regionally,” Lord said, explaining the center is indeed different from the existing medical office buildings, which are more general in purpose.

The center would be specialized, targeting stroke care, spine care, neurology, Alzheimer’s and dementia. For Lord, the center is personal. He told the council his father had a stroke as well as Parkinson’s Disease near the end of his life.

“I would’ve loved to have seen” a facility like this for him, Lord said.

Council members were quick to throw their support to the proposal.

“Martin Health has proven to be a very strong partner,” Vice Mayor Shannon Martin said, calling the company a “proven entity.”

Martin added that she, herself, has had experience dealing with neurological issues, referring to issues she’s had with her back.

Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo, too, noted a personal connection to the neurosciences, explaining she lost a grandmother to dementia and a grandfather to stroke. “It runs in the family,” she said.

Mayor Gregory Oravec said he was happy to support the request and added that he appreciates what Tradition Medical Center has done for the community.

“It’s incredibly important” to have access to quality healthcare, he said.

“We want the best here.”

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