Middlefield Village and University Hospitals are forging an agreement to create a medical center on Kinsman Road near its intersection with Gingerich Road.
Middlefield Village and University Hospitals are forging an agreement to create a medical center on Kinsman Road near its intersection with Gingerich Road.
Middlefield Village Council gave Mayor Ben Garlich the authority March 13 to sign a purchase agreement for the vacant BFG Supply Company distribution center on Kinsman Road with the intent of renovating it in partnership with UH.
“We’ve been trying to get a medical center in the village for five years. We think this building is a perfect fit for us,” Garlich said near the end of the meeting. “This is a great investment for the village and we will finally get the urgent care we need.”
In a followup text after last Thursday’s meeting, Garlich said he signed the contract, which UH previously signed, to buy the facility pending a due diligence period of 130 days.
“Hopefully, it will not take that long, but better safe than sorry,” Garlich said. “Lots of due diligence needs to be done to make it a reality. We are all conceptually on board and hope nothing we aren’t currently unaware of prevents it becoming a reality.”
The 38,000-square-foot factory in Burton Township sits on more than 58 acres along the Cuyahoga River, according to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office website.
After the meeting, Garlich said the building is not turnkey and needs a lot of work.
The selling price is about $1.25 million and UH will only need about 12,000 square feet of floor space, he said.
Garlich is anticipating the village would be able to lease the rest of the building, he said.
“We are working with the Cardinal Schools, as well, to facilitate their ACE trades program,” he said, adding he has been meeting with Superintendent Jack Cunningham for two years and with UH for four years to bring the project to this point.
The Amish are very excited about the project, as well, and recently agreed to partner with the village and UH to develop the facility, Garlich said.
Once UH and the village agree on a design for the medical center, the mayor said he believes there are Amish crews willing to take care of the build-out.
The village would buy the materials and UH would provide the equipment for the facility, he said.
“It’s a major undertaking, but we are all committed to working together to make it a win,” Garlich said.
The property is owned by BF Acquisition LLC, which bought it for $1 million in 2000, according to the auditor’s website.
The factory was a warehouse and distribution center for Burton Flower and Garden, a branch of BFG Supply Company in Indianapolis, Garlich said.
