N. Valley Hospital has offer to buy old facility

Administration didn't disclose buyer's identity or the dollar amount proposed

North Valley Hospital has an offer of "considerably more" than $2 million for its old building, according to hospital administrator Craig Aasved.

The buy-sell agreement, with a March 15 deadline for completion, does not include the professional office building adjacent to the hospital. Aasved did not disclose the buyer's identity or the amount of the offer.

He spoke about the sale during a meeting Tuesday to update the community about the new hospital under construction at the south end of Whitefish.

Aasved said the $2 million estimate for the hospital and land was used during planning for the replacement facility.

"The offer on the table is considerably more than that," he said.

He said the hospital received multiple offers for the prime piece of property between U.S. 93 and the Whitefish River just north of the Mountain Mall in Whitefish.

None of the proposals included keeping the hospital building, Aasved said. He said he didn't know whether the proposed buyer also was seeking to buy the mobile home park on the south border of the hospital property. The owner of that park recently notified residents that they must relocate because he intends to sell the property.

Proceeds from the sale of the facility will help reduce the debt on the new $30 million hospital. Aasved emphasized that this revenue won't change the foundation's fundraising goal of $6.3 million.

Aasved reported that the capital campaign has raised $4.7 million, or 75 percent, of its goal. Last week, he said, the foundation received an anonymous donation of $250,000.

He said he expects the campaign to reach its goal by the end of the year.

In other developments, Aasved said North Valley Hospital has sold 3.9 acres for development of a medical-village complex of seven buildings on the south end of the new campus.

Orthopedic and general surgeons, obstetric/gynecology physicians, physical therapists and dentists will occupy five of the buildings. The hospital will use the other two for a sleep lab and community room space.

Aasved said construction by Swank Enterprises remains on schedule with completion projected for February 2007.

"This project just changes every day," he said. "It's really starting to take shape."

Aasved said the design follows a mall concept. He said very little room is devoted to lobby areas to make the most efficient use of space.

"A lot of hospitals build fancy lobby areas," Aasved said. "But if you go through them, not many people use them."

Although the move to the new facility is about a year away, hospital officials have hired a firm specializing in such transitions to handle planning.

Aasved had good news about the financial status of North Valley Hospital, thanks to increased emergency-room traffic, more surgeries and higher reimbursements because of its designation as a critical-access hospital.

"Financially, we've had probably the best two years in the life of this hospital," Aasved said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.