If the proposed McLaren Health Care Village on Sashabaw Road at I-75 is approved, it could bring thousands of new residents to Independence Township.
Kevin Tompkins, vice president of marketing for McLaren Health Care Corporation, could be among the first.
Tompkins, who presented information about the project this past Wednesday to a group of Realtors at Oakhurst’s Golf and Country Club, said he and his family have been house shopping in the Clarkston area.
‘We’ve seen so many wonderful properties,? he said. ‘Clarkston is a wonderful area.?
The breakfast meeting was organized by Oakhurst staff and local Realtors. About 100 real estate agents gathered in the club’s meeting hall for the information and question-and-answer session.
Answering questions, Tompkins said the project, pending final approval by Independence Township, could break ground this summer, June or July.
They have not yet applied for a Certificate of Need permit from the state for their proposed 300-bed hospital. The hospital is slated for phase two and three, about three years from now. Certificates expire after one year, so it would be too soon to apply now, he said.
‘We feel very positive about our ability to demonstrate need,? Tompkins said. ‘There are a lot of health care needs in this community.?
Phase one, which would take about two years to complete, includes a 130,000-square-foot medical office building for a relocated Clarkston Medical Group and other practices.
It would bring about 1,000 jobs to the area, he said.
Finding homes for them would be the Realtors? job, said Donna McDonald, sales associate with ReMax Encore, who helped organize the meeting.
Tompkins said his family is considering existing houses or building a new one. They have been up and down Main Street in downtown Clarkston.
‘It’s been a lot of fun,? he said. ‘We had lunch at the Clarkston Union ? we loved it.?