Community members will be asked for input about the redevelopment of the Good Samaritan Hospital site at a public forum Tuesday evening. Premier Health officials closed Good Sam in July citing lower demand for hospital services.
The meeting, led by Premier Health, Columbus-based city planning firm Planning Next, and CityWide, is the second of three community forums being organized to discuss the future of the West Dayton site.
Officials say they’ll present several development options based on input gathered during a previous community forum. Attendees will then be asked for their suggestions.
CityWide’s Karen DeMasi says planners will take that input into consideration before unveiling their final Good Sam redevelopment proposal later this fall.
“It’s really important for the public to come out and express their thoughts on these various options and tell us which ones they are interested in us pursuing," she says.
Clergy Community Coalition President Rev. Rockney Carter says he feels the community should have been asked for their input before officials made the decision to close Good Samaritan Hospital in the first place. His group is planning to protest Tuesday's meeting.
“We know it to be a complete sham," says Carter. "It’s just something [organizers are doing] to try to appease the people.”
The meeting will be held Tuesday at Fairview Pre-K-6 School beginning at 6 p.m. Officials say the next forum could be held as early as October.
