Medical Properties Locating In Retail Locations
South Florida Hospital News | By: Lois Thomson
Many new medical office buildings are being constructed in South Florida as part of retail developments. Developers who have heretofore included office components with their projects are starting to realize that medical office buildings can sometimes make better sense than pure office use.
One Seventeen Professional Arts Center, a medical/professional office condominium adjoining the Town & Country shopping center in Kendall, is under construction. The project, which consists of two-four story buildings with a combined total of 133,000 square feet, will be located east of the Florida Turnpike at Southwest 117th Avenue and Southwest 82nd Street. The shopping center is being completely renovated and will consist of 800,000 square feet.
This trend has advantages for both retail and medical users. Visibility and accessibility are key factors for medical offices in a retail location. Since retail facilities generate a tremendous number of trips per year, there is an advantage of greater exposure for the medical building. Medical buildings in a retail center can also attract patients due to the increased visibility in a high traffic retail setting.
Some medical facilities are changing the way they provide services to their patients. They are offering their services very similar to retail users. While retail locations do not work for all medical users, it is definitely worth considering.