Cleveland Clinic Purchases Property In Newell Creek In Mentor

The Cleveland Clinic just made a major purchase in Mentor.

On Friday, they bought 47 acres in the Newell Creek development -- specifically, the northwest quadrant by the Center Street and Interstate 90 interchange.

The purchase does not come as a surprise because the Clinic has been in talks with the city for awhile regarding this property.

In fact, both the City Council and Planning Commission voted to rezone the land from a "lifestyle center" designation to a "medical campus" to accommodate the Clinic.

The Cleveland Clinic has not yet specified what they have in mind for for the property.

"We are pleased to have this land and we appreciate the support of the city of Mentor and the Mentor Planning Commission," said Heather Phillips, the director of corporate communications for the Clinic. "At this time, we have no immediate plans for the land."

A "medical campus" zone can be used for diverse reasons, said Ron Traub, the city of Mentor's director of business and economic development.

It can include everything from physician's offices to a full medical center with a helicopter pad.

Traub said the city looks forward to working with the Cleveland Clinic whenever they have a plan prepared for the property.

Mentor City Manager Kenneth Filipiak previously said the scope of Cleveland Clinic's intentions can be inferred from the size of the property lot in which they are interested.

"It stands to reason that, if they're looking at 47 acres, they may have ambitious plans," Filipiak said.

The Clinic has already been busy in Mentor this year.

In October, it opened physicians' offices at 7060 Wayside Drive.

The Cleveland Clinic Mentor Medical Office Building is a 9,800 square-foot facility and houses 14 physicians.

Its services include primary care, internal medicine, OBGYN and pediatrics, cardiology, orthopaedics and sports medicine, urology and surgical specialties. The facility also offers imaging services, diagnostic testing and lab services.