South County Health, South Kingstown continue talks over DPS site for parking and EMS space
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Summary
Town staff and South County Health are exploring use of the former DPS building and adjacent land to ease chronic parking problems at South County Hospital and to replace or renovate the towns EMS facility. Preliminary schematics and cost estimates are due in the coming weeks, with due diligence expiring Sept. 20, 2024.
Town staff and South County Health told the South Kingstown Town Council on Aug. 13 they remain in negotiations over the hospitals proposed purchase of the former Department of Public Safety (DPS) building, a property the hospital says could add roughly two-thirds of an acre of parking near its campus and host a new or renovated EMS facility.
Jim, the town manager, said a purchase-and-sale agreement was signed calling for South County Health to pay $330,000 in cash, take custody of the DPS property, remove the existing DPS structure and provide a renovated or new EMS facility in the footprint. Jim told the council that one option under consideration would preserve the newer, cinder-block two-bay EMS addition and construct sleeping quarters and a roof over it rather than demolishing the entire structure.
Andrew Prescott, general counsel for South County Health, said the hospital has run into high cost estimates from architects and builders and is asking Union Studios to prepare preliminary schematics and an initial cost estimate. "If they come back at a million, that's a deal breaker," Prescott said, adding that $3 million to $5 million would be unaffordable. He said philanthropic funds have been identified but their availability depends on a definitive construction price.
Prescott and Jim also described archaeology and regulatory checks required before construction can proceed. The firm Grey and Pape completed preliminary geophysical testing and produced a report that has been shared with the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission and tribal representatives. Prescott said those parties have statutory review periods and that future work could range from avoiding sensitive areas to limiting excavation and conducting targeted test pits.
Councilors pressed hospital staff on interim parking steps while the site work and design proceed. Prescott said the hospital has reconfigured existing lots, stepped up enforcement to prioritize patient parking and is seeking roughly 0.67 acres from the town that is proximate to existing hospital lots. He said the Union Studios schematics and estimate were expected in two to four weeks; because the purchase-and-sale due-diligence window was extended through Sept. 20, 2024, the council and hospital expect to know by that date whether the project will move forward or whether the parties will seek another extension.
The council did not take any formal action on the purchase on Aug. 13. The next procedural milestone is the architects preliminary schematic and cost estimate; if that figure is acceptable to the town and hospital, the parties will advance to a more definitive design and the council would be asked to approve any town concessions or final agreements.
The town manager said renderings previously prepared by Union Studios had been scaled back to align with available funds and that the town has committed $1 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funds and secured a separate $1 million grant intended for the EMS facility; staff said they now believe the scope can be adjusted so the combined funding can cover construction, with an anticipated construction start in 2025 if approvals and financing hold.
