Old Chatham Hospital Sold
UNC Chatham Hospital announced that it has sold its former hospital facility on West Third Street to Rodriguez-Cardona Property Holdings, LLC. The new owners plan to demolish the current buildings to make way for 52 new townhomes.
The old hospital has been vacant since 2008 when the new Chatham Hospital opened on Progress Boulevard, in the Central Carolina Business Campus in Siler City.
The former facility and related buildings have been for sale during the past ten years. Prior attempts to sell the buildings to perspective buyers failed due to economic conditions, regulatory issues, costs of renovation and financing obstacles. The buildings have significantly deteriorated over the years, making them prohibitively expensive to save and re-purpose.
“We are sorry to lose this iconic landmark in the community,” stated Robert Enders, President of Chatham Hospital, “but I am sure the nearby residents and all of Siler City will be very happy with the conceptual plans for the property that the new owners have shared with me. My understanding is that the demolition may begin quite soon.”
“Considering the incredible vibrancy of Chatham County, Siler City has been a logical step in development for many years”, said Maribel Rodriguez-Cardona, “and our goal is to expand the affordable housing market in the area while respecting the history of the site and responding to current growth trends. We are super excited and we think the community will be highly impressed with our progress and final product”.
The original Chatham Hospital opened in a two-story brick house in 1937 where the former helipad is now located. A new multi-story building was constructed in 1950 with a major addition and patient wing completed in 1968. The last addition was a new emergency department built in 1997. Much of the financing through the decades came from generous donations from corporations and citizens within the community, as well as more than 60 years of support by the Siler City Rotary Club. Chatham Hospital affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2008 in order to expand its offerings and services to the greater community.
