Florida Hospital Oceanside to transition to private rooms

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

Economic prosperity talks Sept. 12 revealed hospital renovation, as well store vacancy-filling, plans.

BY MIKE CAVALIERE | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

A multi-million dollar project to renovate the second and third floors of Florida Hospital Oceanside, at 264 S. Atlantic Ave., making all patient rehabilitation rooms private, will begin in two weeks, according to Florida Hospital CEO Daryl Tol, at the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Power Hours event Wednesday, Sept. 12.

“We have big plans for Oceanside,” Tol told the group of business and community leaders gathered to talk economic prosperity. A grand reopening of the two floors is planned for July 2013.

The morning event was held at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, which, combined with Oceanside, employs 2,000, contributing $120 million in salaries to the area. The hospital also recently signed on as the chamber’s newest partner.

“We plan on filling (Oceanside) and continuing to grow there,” Tol added. “We want to be seen as a community asset … and that’s not just talk.”

Vacancy at the former Granada Boulevard Food Lion was another topic of discussion at Power Hours.

“I wish we had the kind of control over the Food Lion that people think we have,” said Joe Mannarino, city economic development director, adding that the land is owned by an out-of-state landlord who is still being paid by Food Lion, which has two years remaining on its lease.

The site is likely to be filled by a “lower-end” grocer, he added, since stores like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Fresh Market seek out more “high-density” locations.