HCA Moves Dirt on New Metro Public Health Center

The new Lentz Public Health Center

A long-awaited land swap between Metro Nashville and HCA took a ceremonial step forward Wednesday. The Nashville-based hospital chain is building a new public health center for the city in exchange for land near an HCA hospital.

City and company officials broke ground for the new public health center on what is now a grassy field across Charlotte Avenue from HCA’s headquarters.

In an unusual arrangement, the company is in charge of construction and keeping the cost to taxpayers around $28 million. Sometime next year, HCA will hand over the new public health center to the city and receive land next to Centennial hospital. Stephen Corbeil is president of HCA’s Tri-Star system and calls the real estate prime for expansion.

“We don’t have plans today, but because it’s near and adjacent to our campus, we obviously would like to have the ability when the time comes to use that space when appropriate.”

The existing Lentz Public Health Center is expected to be demolished. As part of the deal, HCA will be exempt from paying property taxes on the site for five years. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean calls it a “win-win.”