Sutter promised a $1 billion new hospital in the East Bay. Now, it’s pulling the plug
An overview of Sutter Health Alta Bates Summit medical center in 2016.
TL;DR
- Sutter Health is canceling its planned $1 billion, 200-bed hospital in Emeryville, originally slated for 2033.
- The company plans to develop outpatient centers on the Emeryville site and search for a new hospital location in the East Bay.
- Sutter cited "lack of a clear and predictable regulatory path," particularly concerning the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as the main barrier.
- Legislation aimed at streamlining the environmental review for Sutter's hospital projects was amended to exclude Emeryville, focusing only on Santa Clara.
- Sutter's Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley must close by 2030 due to earthquake safety requirements.
- Plans for a new Sutter hospital campus in Santa Clara, valued at $2.8 billion, are progressing.
- The decision to cancel the Emeryville hospital may lead to consolidation of inpatient services in Oakland.