JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — By 2027, Ochsner plans to open a new 5-story, 343,000 square foot Children's Hospital at its Jefferson Highway campus.
Dr. Butch Adolph, Chief Medical Officer, said they often consider Ochsner's current Children's Hospital as a 'hospital within a hospital.'
“We often can’t take patients that want to transfer here because of capacity issues," Dr. Adolph said. "This will help us address that, but more importantly, it will also allow us to take care of pediatric patients in a more pediatric, family-friendly environment," they said.
While the project would solve those issues for the healthcare system, nearby neighbors worry it would create problems for them.
“I feel like they’re just trying to trick people into letting them do what they want to do. They definitely do want to put it touching this hospital, but it’s going to destroy the neighborhood," JP resident, Buster Bond, said.
Ochsner has held a series of neighborhood meetings over the last year to solicit feedback from residents. On Wednesday, they presented plans to address the top concerns – drainage, trees, and traffic.
“It’s more top notch today. It’s getting to where they’re starting to flap their wings a little better," JP resident, A.E. Briede IV, said.
The project now includes retention ponds that can hold 435,000 gallons of stormwater. The healthcare system also agreed to scrap the idea of a hotel at the neighborhood's request. Now, the plans include a small park for residents.
Ochsner said of the 14 trees on the property, 8 will be preserved and the other 6 will be removed and replaced.
“We’re investing over $100 million in the project, but to us, the real value is in the ability to provide high-quality care for our patients," Ochsner's Asst. VP of Community Affairs, Emily Arata, said.
Some residents say they're still concerned about their quality of life.
“I’m just trying to stop them from flooding Betz Avenue and making our flooding worse than it already is. The traffic is going to be worse no matter what, but that’s the price you pay for living by a hospital," Bond said.
With a donation from Tom and Gayle Benson secured, Ochsner is committed to building the new facility, but residents said Wednesday that they want to see stronger commitments that their neighborhood will change for the better.
Ochsner will present its plans before the Jefferson Parish council later this fall, Arata said.
The parish councilman for the district, Deano Bonano, was at Wednesday's meeting. Bonano said he's reached compromises with Ochsner and the residents.
