VOL. 127 | NO. 164 | Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The health care partners whove committed to having a physical presence in the soon-to-be-redeveloped Sears Crosstown Tower say theyre excited about the opportunities to join forces in promoting health and wellness in the Memphis community.

Of the nine founding partners that have committed to having a physical presence in the redeveloped building, five are health care-centered organizations: The Church Health Center, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, The West Clinic, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital and St. Judes fundraising arm, ALSAC.

The health care partners will occupy about 60 percent of the 1.5 million-square-foot historic Sears Crosstown Tower, at the nexus of Midtown and the Memphis Medical District at 495 N. Watkins St.

Having been vacant for more than 20 years, the building will be preserved and redeveloped for mixed use.

Its a vertical urban village thats grounded in art, education, health and wellness, said Todd Richardson, an assistant professor at the University of Memphis, whos leading the Sears Crosstown redevelopment project. Its really the combination for these four things that creates the real exciting possibilities that we can have. That synergy of arts, education and health care is something thats completely new, not only to us, but we think nationally.

Richardson said that in addition to housing health care facilities, the building will feature space for medical residents and fellows, which can help attract young health care industry talent to Memphis.

We think that putting all these bright minds and the resident and fellows from St. Jude to the University of Tennessee and from Rhodes in one location, what an incredible cauldron of ideas and relationships that will develop, said Dr. Kurt Tauer, chief of staff at The West Clinic.

Tauer said a move into the Sears Crosstown building would double or possibly triple The West Clinics current Memphis Medical District location at 1588 Union Ave., which he said needs to be upgraded and larger.

Tauer said The West Clinic staff isnt just excited about the concept of sharing space; they look forward to sharing culture with organizations such as the Church Health Center, whose focus on community and mind-body-spirit wellness offers numerous benefits for The West Clinics patients.

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Medical Providers Excited About Crosstown Potential