The network’s CEO said it’s part of Kettering Health’s to better serve the community by offering services closer to home for many of its patients.
“Everything we do as a faith-based health system centers on how to best care for the patient,” Kettering CEO Fred Manchur said. “Part of that care includes connecting people to better and faster access to quality health care.”
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President Roy Chew said he and other Kettering officials met with Oakwood’s mayor, city manager and assistant city manager on Tuesday to discuss the health system’s plans for the 62,000-square-foot building, which is now occupied by a number of doctor’s offices, other professional offices, a yoga studio and small retail shops.
“We have to work with our existing tenants as well as the city of Oakwood for any plans for that building,” Chew said. “We would imagine a complete redo of that building from top to bottom, inside out. We think that the exterior of the building is going to change pretty dramatically as well as the interior of the building.”
Kettering has yet to determine a timetable or costs for renovating the building, which it purchased for $2.6 million through a group called 48 Acorns Real Estate Co. Ltd.
Oakwood Mayor William Duncan applauded Kettering’s decision to invest in the City of Oakwood and keep the building “in the hands of local owners.”
And Oakwood’s assistant city manger, Jay Weiskircher, said he anticipated Kettering’s presence would be a big draw for the retail center near Dorothy Lane Market.
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“The foot traffic they will bring to the area is good for everyone,” Weiskircher said. “It’s good for the retailers, and it’s good for the eating establishments.”
The Oakwood building was the former home of Dominique’s, a casual French restaurant that closed there a couple of years ago, according to Weiskircher. But Kettering officials said they have no plans to reopen a restaurant there.
Kettering also has plans to build a medical office building on a 3.84 acre property at 744 E. Dixie Drive, the site of the former Sonny’s Auto Spa. Kettering is expected to take possession of the property later this year, according to West Carrollton city officials.
“This will be a substantial investment, not only to our local tax base, but also toward the health and well-bring of our community,” City Manager Brad Townsend said in a statement.
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The non-profit Kettering network is one of the Dayton-area’s biggest employers with eight hospitals, 10 emergency departments, and 120 outpatient facilities throughout southwest Ohio.
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