The Medical Center in downtown San Jose has been closed since 2004. Now county officials have announced their plans to construct a new, 60,000 square foot clinic on the site, at the corner of Santa Clara and 17th streets. The new clinic will take five years to complete. Until it is ready, a primary care clinic will be available at the Mediplex Building at 725 E. Santa Clara St.

The decision to build a new clinic replaces earlier plans to renovate the Mediplex Building. Not only is the new site more amenable to expansion. It will also allow for the development of the remainder of the area for residential and commercial use, and thereby revitalize the area, which has been largely neglected since the hospital closed.

The biggest concern with the new clinic is that the area will remain underused for another five years, until the clinic is completed.  Les Levitt of the East Santa Clara Street Business Association asked county supervisors, “What’s going to happen in the meantime?” County Executive Jeff Smith acknowledged the problem, but laid the onus of blame on economic conditions.
Read More at the Mercury News.