Effort Seeks to Find New, Innovative Uses for the Site on the BCHD Campus
As Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) continues advancing its Healthy Living Campus vision, the BCHD Board of Directors has announced that it will release a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for potential partners to redevelop the former South Bay Hospital Site. At its June 25 meeting, the Board held a public study session regarding the upcoming RFEOI – the first step in soliciting new ideas from potential partners about how to redevelop the site and what kinds of health services could be offered where the former hospital building now stands. That building is slated to be vacated in 2027.
The District’s overarching goal is to find a partner and a plan that aligns with BCHD’s mission and vision to meet the community’s ongoing health and wellness needs. Any redevelopment plan must also create sustainable revenue to support BCHD services, address the seismic safety of the aging former hospital building, and take into account community feedback.
“Over the years, we’ve gathered valuable input from our community, and that feedback will help shape the District’s evaluation of the RFEOI responses,” said BHCD CEO Tom Bakaly. “The document includes guidelines addressing building height, density, and placement to ensure that any future development aligns with community and neighborhood expectations. Our aim is to balance community concerns with innovative possibilities that enhance local access to health-related services.”
Bakaly added that the public feedback the District has received since 2017 includes:
- Integrate the campus with the surrounding community
- Include broad community benefits
- Focus on intergenerational programming and needs
- Create useable open space for the community
- Keep building heights and density as low as possible
- Lessen impacts to the surrounding neighborhood
Potential future uses could include Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE), affordable senior housing, or medical office and wellness services – all options that align with the scope of services BCHD is authorized to provide under California Healthcare District law.
The complete RFEOI document can be found starting June 30 at www.bchd.org/rfq
“Through this RFEOI process, we hope to spark fresh, forward-thinking proposals that meet local health needs and complement the character of our community,” Bakaly said. “There will be many opportunities for public engagement during the process, and we look forward to working together to address the former Hospital building and shape the future of the Healthy Living Campus and the overall well-being of the Beach Cities.”
The RFEOI will be issued June 30, with responses due by August 7. During the selection process, a BCHD committee will evaluate the submissions, including community engagement opportunities for public input. The committee will then deliver their recommendation(s) to the Board for approval and to determine next steps.
About Beach Cities Health District
Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), named the 2021 “Healthcare District of the Year” by the Association of California Healthcare Districts, is focused on preventive health and serves the communities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, California. Established in 1955 as a public agency, it offers an extensive range of dynamic health and wellness programs, with innovative services and facilities to promote health and prevent diseases across the lifespan. BCHD also operates allcove Beach Cities, a youth mental health center for ages 12-25, AdventurePlex, a health and fitness facility where kids play their way to good health, and the Center for Health & Fitness, a comprehensive fitness center that is one of just two Medical Fitness Association-certified facilities in California. Visit www.bchd.org or call (310) 374-3426 for more information.
