JMU approves $50.6 million RMH buy

Purchase means more parking, academic facilities

The Board of Visitors unanimously approved a $50.6 million plan to purchase Rockingham Memorial Hospital’s campus adjacent to JMU at its meeting Jan. 7.

"It will take five years for the hospital to build a new facility," said senior vice president for administration and finance Charles King.

The purchase still must be approved by the Virginia General Assembly and the state administration, said JMU spokesman Andy Perrine.

Perrine said the Board of Visitors agreed at its last meeting to approve the purchase. He added the general assembly begins this week and a final decision will be made before spring legislative session is over.

Governor Mark Warner’s budget includes funding for the project. The budget proposal would cover $40.6 million, while JMU would be required to raise the remaining $10 million through other methods.
Included in the purchase are 15.8 acres, nine buildings, two parking decks with a total of 692 spaces and surface parking of 370 spaces.

Perrine said that over the next five years, JMU will develop a plan for the buildings. "We still have five or six years to decide exactly what to do with each building."

There are no definite plans for each building, Perrine said. The property will be used for administrative offices, student services, parking and academic space.

Perrine said he is almost certain that the parking decks would be left for parking.

RMH has also announced the new site for construction of the new hospital and health campus. The site is located just east of Harrisonburg at the northeast corner of Port Republic and Reservoir roads, according to RMH.

Debra Thompson, associate director of public relations and communications for RMH, said RMH officials plan to break ground for the new facility in late 2006 and open doors in late 2009.

"Now that we have selected a site, we are excited to be moving forward with planning for our new facility and health campus," Thompson said.

"We are understandably pleased with the recent announcement that JMU plans to purchase our current campus. Not only will RMH and the community benefit from this, but also scores of future JMU students," Thompson said.