East Hampton ER Could Open By 2021; Size Of Project Scaled Back As Offices Are Eliminated

The Southampton Hospital Association was given approval by the East Hampton Town Board last week to proceed with plans for an emergency room facility on Pantigo Place that hospital officials say they hope to have open in about four years. The hospital pared down its plans for the emergency facility ahead of the lease approval after concerns from town officials about the size of the planned building—originally projected to be 54,000 square feet. The town owns the 4-acre property at 400 Pantigo Place that will be leased to the association, which now plans a 27,700-square-foot facility. The new design eliminates doctors’ offices attached to the emergency and radiology sections, and laboratories, which will anchor the facility.Robert Chaloner, chief administrative officer of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, said the hospital, in looking to trim the size of the building, found that there is likely an ample supply of office space in neighboring buildings.“We realized the need for offices in that location isn’t what we thought,” Mr. Chaloner said. “We think there’s adequate resources there without having to build a building that some felt was overwhelming the area. We heard that, and we took a closer look and we adjusted our plans accordingly.”He nodded to the existing office space in the neighboring East Hampton Healthcare Foundation building, and in the 300 Pantigo building, which contains several offices owned by the town that are expected to be put up for sale in the near future to fund the construction of a new office building on the Town Hall campus. Mr. Chaloner noted that the property being leased to the town will have room for expansion of the new building if necessary.The project was spurred by a state-sponsored drive to expand freestanding emergency rooms statewide. The hospital has already been awarded a $10 million grant toward the estimated $30 million price tag for the East Hampton ER building.He also told the board that the hospital’s goal is to have the facility constructed and open for business by 2021, if fundraising and planning go smoothly.“It’s a concept that we believe will improve access to health,” Mr. Chaloner said. “Frankly … people are avoiding health care because of the travel time.”The property now contains two baseball fields used by the local little leagues. As part of the agreement, the hospital will pay for two new ballfields at a location of the town’s choosing.