 What’s going on with a potential IU Health hospital in southwest Fort Wayne?

by: Rex Smith

Posted: Jun 19, 2024 / 03:26 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 19, 2024 / 06:11 PM EDT

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) — It has been more than two years since the Allen County Commissioners gave the final approval on the rezoning of land owned by IU Health.

The land, located in southwest Fort Wayne, just off of I-69 at Lower Huntington and Ernst Roads, was said to be the home of an IU Health medical complex, including a medical building up to 150 feet tall. The company purchased it in 2019.

At the time of the rezoning approval in April of 2022, there was one building under construction on the property — A medical office building — but it was said to be the only project in motion at the time.

IU Health had previously held open houses to discuss plans for the medical complex. Throughout the process, area residents raised concerns about disturbing the environment and a quiet area with the potential of commercial projects.

While IU Health was able to move forward and develop the land, there’s been no known movement over the last two years.

On Wednesday, IU Health officials in Indianapolis provided construction updates on their downtown Indy hospital being built. So, WANE 15 asked their public relations staff about the proposed hospital in southwest Fort Wayne.

“Unfortunately, there is no new information to share at this time,” a spokesperson said in an email.

WANE 15 also inquired about the property to IU Health Fort Wayne president Brian Bauer, but a response had not been received at the time of this post.

The IU Health medical office building at Lower Huntington and Ernst Roads in southwest Fort Wayne on Wednesday, 6/19/24.

As of now, the IU Health medical office building at Lower Huntington and Ernst is open and operational. It sits next to a large open area of land.

It remains a mystery of if and when Fort Wayne will see a third major hospital go up.

What’s going on with a potential IU Health hospital in southwest Fort Wayne?

IU Health has not provided any new information regarding the proposed hospital in southwest Fort Wayne, Indiana, despite acquiring land for the project in 2019 and receiving rezoning approval in 2022. The land, located near I-69 at Lower Huntington and Ernst Roads, was intended for a medical complex, including a 150-foot tall medical building. However, no significant progress has been made on the project in the last two years.