2022-01-26

Hospital redevelopment secures big donation as town prepares to move on-street parking

Families of local businessmen who are leading a charity's fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of a multi-million refresh of the South Shore Regional Hospital opened their own wallets in a big way.

David Himmelman and Tim O'Regan are co-chairing the Health Services Foundation's fundraising initiative for the South Shore Regional Hospital's Redevelopment Project, which is entering another year of a seven-year, $113-million renovation and modernization. Feeling like they needed to add more beyond an unpaid administrative commitment to the drive, the O'Regan and Himmelman clans pledged $500,000 each to the cause.

"It has been ingrained in us how fortunate we are to live and do business on the South Shore," Himmelman said in a statement released to LighthouseNOW by the foundation. "I know it's time for all of us to support and invest in our local hospital system through this major redevelopment and help raise the funds to acquire the necessary equipment and services our communities deserve."

In the statement, O'Regan said he and Himmelman recognized the importance of the project to the region and wanted to donate personal financial aid to ensure it is successful.

The project includes expansion and renovation of the emergency department, endoscopy and day surgery units and physical plant as well as the addition of a dialysis unit. The Glen Allan Drive site, built in 1988, has 85 inpatient beds, including medical, surgical, intensive care, obstetrics and mental health units. The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore, which said an MRI scanner will also be added, indicated the end result will translate to a 30 per cent expansion of the hospital and an emergency department triple its original size.

The forecasted seven-year timeframe is because of the balancing act of phasing the work and keeping the hospital operational at the same time.

Another piece of the project is the establishment of a new emergency-vehicle-only access road off Glen Allan Drive that wraps around the southern end of the 12-hectare property. The road will connect at Glen Allan Drive, south of the driveway leading in-and-out of The Daisy charity thrift shop. This means nine on-street parallel parking spaces in the area will be removed.

However, all but three will be reinstated across the road closest to Glen Allan Park. The province committed $70,000 toward the $85,000 estimated cost to move the stalls and build new sidewalk extending southbound from the Glen Allan Drive/Streatch Drive intersection. The Town of Bridgewater would assume responsibility for the remaining cost. That work is expected to start in the spring or summer.