Providence Wants to Expand Willamette Falls Hospital

Providence's Willamette Falls Hospital is getting a little crowded.

And the hospital has an idea: expand it's just more than 350,000 square feet by adding a roughly 35,000 square foot office building across the street.

The hospital's development has been limited by a master plan approved four years ago.That plan allows the hospital to replace its one-story office building with a two-story building.

Since then, the hospital has purchased six houses that it would like the city to approve considering as part of the master plan. Those properties are being eyed to expand parking.

If Providence receives approval for the new building, they will actually be adding less square footage than they would otherwise. The master plan allows them to build up to 50,000 square feet.

The city commission, which gave tentative approval last week, will next consider the plan on March 16. The public hearing section is closed and the commission members will just a hear a reading of the proposal.

They are expected to give final approval in May.