Sedgwick County Commissioners have unanimously approved an agreement for the donation of almost 12 acres of property for the development of a South Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital.
The county and the State of Kansas are planning to build a 104-bed hospital on a site at MacArthur and Meridian. The land, valued at over $1.4 million, is being donated by the Lange Community Foundation, and closing on the property should be completed by late August. Funding of $107 million has been secured for the project.
Assistant County Manager Tania Cole said design work has been completed and construction documents will be ready in October, then the county will go out for bids. A contractor will be chosen in December and a contract will go to the County Commission for approval. Construction on the hospital will begin in February, 2025 and it will be completed in August of 2026.
Commissioners David Dennis and Sarah Lopez expressed thanks to staff, state officials and legislators for their help and support in developing the project. Dennis said a new biomedical school in Wichita will provide the workforce to staff the hospital and the land donation will provide savings on the cost of the project. Lopez said this will bring $100 million in investment to south Wichita, and over 300 well-paying jobs will be created.
