New VA clinic coming to Springfield

[samiam]

More good news! This could bring more ex and retired military to Springfield as well as jobs


http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-07-23/story/va_to_expand_clinic_space_in_jacksonville

[Springfielder]

It's not Historic Springfield, but I'm always glad to see any improvements towards helping our vets.

[strider]

While this new facility is located just outside the borders of Historic Springfield, it will have a definite impact on Historic Springfield.  I, for one, believe the impact will be a positive one with many new and temporary residents coming in. It will also mean jobs for the residents who work construction as well as increased jobs overall once completed.

[tufsu1]

Well TUFSU1.

I guess it was possible after all.

nice try, but a clinic and a hospital are 2 different things!

from what I've heard, the VA Clinic expansion (remember we already have a clinic here) is expected to cost about $40 million....the new Shands Cancer Hospital in Gainesville cost about $400 million.

[tufsu1]

misunderstanding then...I was only implying that a new hospital would be hard to come by....especially since they're expanding the one in Gainesville.

[Stenodave]

well you seemed to have doubted that there would be a clinic expansion on the books, since it had never been any movement on it.

Hopefully, the local veterans (with a little local leadership) can get something big moving.

As a future resident and a current disable veteran, I'm always ready to get involved   I'm just leaderless

[Springfielder]

historic schmistoric. The historic district was always meant to expand a bit anyways.

I don't agree at all, that's why it's referred to as a district, which is a specific area.

My point was that Shands is not part of Historic Springfield, whether you care about it or not, it's still true.

[thelakelander]

It would be good if the new VA clinic could be built in a pedestrian friendly format.  That area could really use anchors that put people on the sidewalks.  The more foot traffic stimulated, the more use of the parks and opportunity for infill supporting retail development and services.

[sheclown]

We get quite a few people stopping in the thrift store just killing some time before a dr appointment at the hospital.  I hope the clinic expansion will do the same thing for us and for all businesses on Main Street.

[Ocklawaha]

So friend Stephen, isn't it interesting that the posters on our forum want to argue about the historic district on THIS THREAD?
By the way, how much was that medicine we picked up at Walgreens down by the VA Clinic?  Sorry I can't remember who drove us there, was it Steve, Lunican or Thelakelander?  Thanks for your help, I was just too ill to recall.

Well TUFSU1.

I guess it was possible after all.

nice try, but a clinic and a hospital are 2 different things!

from what I've heard, the VA Clinic expansion (remember we already have a clinic here) is expected to cost about $40 million....the new Shands Cancer Hospital in Gainesville cost about $400 million.

With more disabled veterans then any other city...
With less Veterans services then any other city...
This is another case of too little - too late!

Exactly TU! To put the size in some prospective, the former IVEYS DEPARTMENT STORE in Regency Square is 110,000 Sq Feet, a full 10,000 square feet larger then the new VA "clinic".  For all of the attention the veterans get here in Jacksonville, if we ever hold another war, I'm joining the OTHER side!

Can we get COMPLETE Radiology services at the new clinic?  We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get COMPLETE Cardio Pulmonary services at the new clinic?  We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get COMPLETE dental services at the new clinic? We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get COMPLETE Oncology services at he new clinic? We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get COMPLETE Nuclear medicine services at the new clinic? We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get COMPLETE in and out or overnight surgery at the new clinic? We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get COMPLETE meals at the new clinic? We can't get SQUAT now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get VA PX services at the new clinic? We can't get SQUAT now without a 73 mile drive
Can we get BASIC Emergency Room - stabilizing services at the new clinic? We can't get squat now without a 73 mile drive

I was seventeen when I quit school, the year that I enlisted
I don't recall just why I did, my Mom says I insisted
I had some strange idea then, that Uncle Sam was right
My Mama cried, she signed the card, and I went off to fight.
But I just found out this morning, the Doctor told me so,
They killed me in Vietnam and I didn't even know.

Got off the plane in Vietnam, it didn't look like war
With all I saw, I started wondering, just what we came here for.
Some Officers got drunk at night and cheated on their wives
While those peasants on the other side, were fighting for their lives.
You know the army tried some fancy stuff, to bring them to their knees
Like Agent Orange defoliant, to clear the brush and trees
We'd fly all day above the trails, through clouds of poison spray
But they never said that chemical, would hurt our health today.
But I got the news this morning, the Doctor told me so,
They killed me in Vietnam and I didn't even know.

Well I tried hard to forget that war, like everybody else did
I settled down, got married and I even had some kids
Our children both had birth defects, the Doctors had their doubts
They never said what caused it, but I think I just found out.
Because I just found out this morning, the Doctor told me so,
They killed me in Vietnam and I didn't even know.

The Doctor says I have some time, he was trying to be kind
You know, I've never been a radical, but this has changed my mind
I'd be so proud to hear my sons say "Hell no, we won't go!"
"Because you killed our Dad in Vietnam, and he didn't even know."
This Agent Orange from Vietnam, we carry with us still
It stays inside for years and years, and does its best to kill
You might get cancer of the liver, you might get cancer of the skin
You might get a VA Disability, you might not live to win.
Because I got the news this morning, the Doctor told me so
They killed me in Vietnam and I didn't even know.
They killed me in Vietnam and I didn't even know

OCKLAWAHA

[Livein32206]

So friend Stephen, isn't it interesting that the posters on our forum want to argue about the historic district on THIS THREAD?

So why not stop friend Stephen from doing so on your forum. Springfielder simply made a point in saying that Shands or the VA clinic are in the historic springfield district, which is true. There really wasn't the need for anyone to argue that fact, yet that didn't seem to stop him from doing what he does in just about any thread, but you get ticked off because this happens to be something you care about. Guess that's what makes the difference. 

[Ocklawaha]

So are veterans affairs something you are NOT interested in?  It goes a bit deeper then "interest" for me, you see my brother-in-law and myself happen to be living that poem.

Yes, the point was made that the Clinic is in the historic district, and Stephen made the point that the district is expandable...  No harm done by either party, and my rant was directed at too little - too late planning that seems endemic of our city.  My beef is with the Federal Government that is now beating the breast and saying, "LOOK WHAT WE DID FOR YOU..."  I'm saying yeah, thanks bud, you killed me and waited 40 years to offer a Tylenol.

You misunderstand my rant, I simply used the post from FRIEND SPRINGFIELDER and friend STEPHEN to nudge the discussion back to our plight as US Veterans.

OCKLAWAHA

[heights unknown]

More good news! This could bring more ex and retired military to Springfield as well as jobs


http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-07-23/story/va_to_expand_clinic_space_in_jacksonville

I guess there are no artists renderings or depictions yet ready on how it will look?

"HU"

[heights unknown]

As a military retiree and Veteran I must say that this has the possibility of providing a much needed shot in the arm to the immediate Springfield neighborhood and the downtown core.  Vets always relocate or locate close to VA Hospitals, Military Bases, etc., especially the disabled Vets; and, the disabled Vets and retirees make pretty decent money, so, the economic impact of the Vets locating or relocating to Springfield can be tremendous for that area and downtown.

"HU"

[Ocklawaha]

Thank you for your service to our country HU! Your points are very valid. I even found the rendering for you:



ANYONE that thinks we are somehow getting ahead with this tiny thing, check out this new announcement:

The Villages OPC - Construction of a 90,000 square foot multi-specialty outpatient clinic began Jun3 2008.  The facility will be located at  8900 SE 165th Mulberry Lane, The Villages, Florida 32162 and will replace the existing community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) located at 1950 Laurel Manor Drive, Building 240, The Villages, Florida, Florida 32162.  The new clinic will provide a broad range of general and specialized medical, dental, surgical, psychiatric, nursing and ancillary services.  Construction is expected to be complete in early 2010.

OCKLAWAHA