By Marie Mulvenna

No final decision has yet been made to move St. Joseph’s Infirmary to a suburban location, contrary to widely published reports that the hospital has indeed decided to relocate.

Sister Mary Brian, R.S.M., hospital administrator, told the BULLETIN that a story in the November 25 issue of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION was inaccurate and “most precipitous.”

Sister Brian said the hospital had submitted an application for a zoning change on a 20-acre site near Northside Hospital in order to determine if the site, on which St. Joseph’s has merely an option for purchase, could possibly be used as a new location for the hospital, an Atlanta institution since 1880. “We haven’t even bought the property,” Sister said, “and any decision to relocate there or remain at our present site would be a decision of the Board of Directors of the hospital. That decision is one that has not been made.”

Sister Mary Brian related that the hospital, the first one established in the city, has considered 14 to 20 other possible sites and has narrowed that selection down to two, one being the northside area in question.

“We were required to file a letter of intent with our zoning change request stating specifically what services we could possibly offer and also indicate that there would not be unnecessary duplication of the services presently offered by Northside hospital.”

The letter of intent, Sister stated, is merely a formality and the ultimate decision would hinge on the decision of the trustees after action has been taken on the rezoning by the Fulton County Zoning board.

“It would be impossible for us to act when the property being considered might not even be feasible. We just don’t know at this time,” she said.

The rezoning would involve change from an R-1 zone (residential) to a different category, thus permitting other usage of the site.

“The tracts of land have not been obtained,” she said, contradicting the daily’s story which stated the hospital’s decision had already been made concerning the possibility of relocating the hospital, but added that the trustees would have to give full consideration to many recommendations before any decision could be rendered. Additional bodies who will furnish recommendations on the site include the Atlanta Regional Commission, the State Department of Human Resources and the joint Planning Boards of the City of Atlanta and Fulton County.

Referring to the CONSTITUTION story which stated that the hospital had already contracted with an architectural firm, Sister explained that preliminary renderings had been done but they were “very, very preliminary.” She stated that architect’s drawings were needed to determine if the land is even suitable for building. “They are in no way detailed or even semi-final plans of any sort.”

R.C. Plumlee, Adair Realty Co. vice-president, who headed the St. Joseph’s site search told the BULLETIN that St. Joseph’s would not to be going through the present process if they did not have an interest in moving the facility, but added that such a move was a decision that only the trustees could make and any statement that it had been reached was erroneous. Plumlee cited the age of the hospital, the need for expansion and said numerous locations had been studied if and when the decision was to relocate rather than renovate the present facilities at 265 Ivy Street, N.E. He concurred with Sister Brian that the architectural renderings done to date were not in any way final plans. “This subject has been under discussion now for about five years,” Plumlee said.

The plans and zoning application submitted to the Fulton County Commission call for a two-floor structure with a nursing tower of eight floors. The hospital, if it did relocate, is expected to specialize in neurological, vascular and coronary care.

Sister Brian stated that if the hospital did move from downtown it would move into a medical complex area. “At present though,” she commented, “we are merely exploring all the steps necessary to reach such a decision. Any other statements indicating we have already decided to move are certainly premature.”