BY JARRETT WHITENER
The catalyst
The plan
“Having the hospital and these specialists here locally is a huge bene t to the quality of life for our residents.” AMY STORY, BOERNE KENDALL COUNTY EDC PRESIDENT CEO
Despite being located near the city of Boerne, the hospital will not actually fall within the city limits. City sta said the property used to be in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction before the property owner requested removal. This means the city does not permit or regulate development; instead, permits are issued by the county. Kendall County resident Randy Loud- ermilk said the new facility will bene t all county residents who must travel outside Boerne for specialized medical care. “I think a hospital in Boerne would be great for county residents like myself,” he said. “I either have to go to San Antonio or Kerrville for specialized care, and having that in Boerne would save me a world of time.”
Since Baptist Health System expressed interest in a Boerne hospital, the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corp. has been involved in attracting the development and other medi- cal-related projects. The hospital will be the rst of its kind for the Boerne community, which has seen proposed hos- pital development that did not come to fruition. BKCEDC President and CEO Amy Story said the Baptist development will serve as a catalyst for the health care industry in Boerne. While emergency rooms, clinics and other medical practices have a presence in the commu- nity, having a hospital as an anchor encourages specialists to set up permanent space in the area. “Some specialists come here maybe one or two days a week, and hopefully that will increase and establish full-time presences here,” Story said. Story said the hospital also attracts retail, commercial and residential development as more people visit for services or due to employment
opportunities. “As our community grows, we will continue to see new retail and development opportunities,” she said. Medical o ces in the Boerne area are already being developed. One Seven Business Park opened in October, and a new wellness plaza is under construction o Her Road. Fair Oaks Emergency Room and Boerne ER are also planning developments in the city. All of these projects coming online over the next few years put Kendall County in a position to ensure care for all residents without having to leave the county limits, Story said.
Looking ahead
2021: Baptist Health System buys 23 acres of land in Boerne
before the completion of the hospital, Story said. The hospital will be designed with future expansion in mind as the community continues to grow, Baptist Health System o cials said. As of publication time, an o cial completion date for the Baptist Hospital in Boerne has not been announced.
Baptist Health System will continue site work to prepare for the construction of the Boerne hospital and ancillary o ces, which are set to break ground in 2026. Medical o ces and other health care facilities are expected to open in Boerne over the next two years, providing space for primary care physicians, specialized care and other services
2022: Developer leaves city of Boerne ETJ
2024: Baptist Health System opens Westover Hills hospital in far West San Antonio 2026: Project expected to break ground
SOURCE: BAPTIST HEALTH SYSTEM COMMUNITY IMPACT
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