Lakeland Regional Health to break ground on freestanding ER
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 25, 2022

Lakeland Regional Health has acquired a prime corner where it plans to build a freestanding emergency room.

The health system paid $4.086 million for the 2.2 acres at 6150 Florida Ave. S in a deal that closed Nov. 9, according to Polk County property records. The seller was Lemonade by Madison Marquette, which buys portfolios of standalone retail properties. The Madison Marquette affiliate paid $1.23 million for the property, which was previously home to a bank branch.

The property has direct access to 540A and Florida Avenue. The health system said it is now "working through the architectural design, budget, and construction planning process and aims to begin construction" in 2023.

“Part of our five-year strategic plan is to ensure our patients have access to convenient and reliable care, including emergency services,” Danielle Drummond, president and CEO of Lakeland Regional Health, said in a statement. “We feel privileged to grow alongside our community by expanding into South Lakeland to serve our patients and families.”

The freestanding ER is one of several real estate projects the health system has underway. The 20-acre Lakeland Regional Health site along Interstate 4 at Kathleen Road is under construction — the health system will use that property for primary and specialty care with dedicated training space for its Family Medicine Residency program, part of the new Graduate Medical Education program starting in 2023.

Lakeland Regional Health said it also continues to consider plans for the 100 acres it owns on US Highway 98 just south of County Road 540A and for the 5.6 acres of land located at 5610 S Florida Ave.