Baptist Hospital Legacy Campus Redevelopment
Summary
The big question: who guides the future of the vacant old Baptist Hospital site? The CRA is recommending Bayou District Consulting — the same firm residents rejected in December — for $695,000 in community engagement and feasibility work. Opponents say the outcome is predetermined; supporters say the process was rebuilt from scratch.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 17
- Last 30 days
- 2
Rising — discussed at 4 meetings since Sep 15, 2026, up from 2 in the two months before.
Impact analysis
$695,000 for the consulting contract, funded in part by $395,000 shifted from the facade grant program.
Westside residents around the former hospital campus, who get structured community engagement and a path to redeveloping a blighted site.
Opponents say displaced-resident protections were lacking in Bayou District's New Orleans project; facade grant applicants lose access to that fund's balance.
Mentions & discussions (14)
City Council - Oct 22, 2026
The council awarded a $695,000 consulting contract to Bayou District Consulting for community engagement and development feasibility work on the 38-acre former Baptist Hospital site, over objections that the firm's New Orleans projects displaced Black families. Supporters say leaving the site empty is the worst outcome and that the contract requires door-to-door outreach.
City Council Agenda Conference - Oct 19, 2026
The council was to consider a development advisory services contract and a Westside CRA funding reallocation to advance redevelopment of the former Baptist Hospital campus.
Community Redevelopment Agency - Oct 5, 2026
The big question: who guides the future of the vacant old Baptist Hospital site? The CRA is recommending Bayou District Consulting — the same firm residents rejected in December — for $695,000 in community engagement and feasibility work. Opponents say the outcome is predetermined; supporters say the process was rebuilt from scratch.
Westside Redevelopment Board - Sep 15, 2026
Demolition of the main hospital towers is underway with completion expected May 2027. A development feasibility advisor has been tentatively selected, and separate CDBG-funded demolition contracts for the south campus go out for award this month — with the Kupfrian (Coup-Freeman) House and mid-century building preserved.
Community Redevelopment Agency - Sep 8, 2026
All three towers of the old Baptist Hospital are now down, with asbestos and universal waste removal complete. The main hospital demolition should wrap up before Christmas, and air monitoring has shown nothing out of range.
City Council - Aug 13, 2026
Dr. Gloria Horning reported concrete crushing at the former Baptist Hospital site sent silica dust into nearby neighborhoods with no fence-line air monitors — she had to call the state DEP to get it shut down.
Community Redevelopment Agency - Jul 13, 2026
The old Baptist Hospital towers are coming down on schedule — abatement is nearly done and the site should be fully cleared by January. Board members want UWF archaeologists to have a shot at checking for Luna settlement artifacts before it's too late.
Westside Redevelopment Board - Jun 16, 2026
Demolition of the Baptist Hospital towers began the week of the meeting, and the city is re-soliciting a development feasibility advisor — with community engagement phases before any developer is chosen. A Westside board member will now sit on the selection committee.
Community Redevelopment Agency - Jun 15, 2026
The old Baptist Hospital site is 53 acres of prime redevelopment potential. The board approved hiring consultants for community engagement and a feasibility study — a deliberate reset after the mayor's earlier plan fell through, with Chairman Wiggins shaping the new RFP.
City Council - Mar 26, 2026
Five vacant parcels around the old Baptist Hospital campus were declared surplus so the city can sell or donate them. One building is headed to a partnership with Community Health Northwest Florida for low-cost healthcare and dental services.
City Council - Feb 26, 2026
Council raised concerns about the contractor's request to remove trees at the old Baptist Hospital campus during demolition; staff reported a phased approach keeping the first phase to 33 of roughly 472 trees on the 42-acre site.
City Council Agenda Conference - Feb 23, 2026
Demolition at the old Baptist Hospital campus hit a snag: an active osprey nest means Florida Fish and Wildlife gets a call, which could slow work. A workshop on disposing of the donated out-parcels is also being scheduled.
City Council - Feb 12, 2026
Wiggins pressed for the long-promised workshop on the future of city-acquired Baptist Hospital properties, saying talks with other entities are already underway.
City Council Agenda Conference - Jan 12, 2026
Demolition of the old Baptist Hospital campus is underway, and the formal update was pushed to Feb. 9. Council discussed asbestos handling, tree removal notification requirements, and who should notify the district council member about tree cutting.
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