WakeMed buys 11 acres in Wendell Falls

WakeMed Health & Hospitals has announced one of its first expansions to eastern Wake County in the massive master-planned residential and commercial development of Wendell Falls in the town of Wendell.

The health care provider has purchased 11 acres of land for $3.67 million and plans to develop a primary care facility with three medical offices.

“The acquisition is definitely a growth strategy for us,” said Tom Cavender, vice president of facilities and construction for WakeMed. “We’re taking advantage of the fact that Wendell Falls is a growing community rather than one that’s fully established.”

The facilities are set to use only three to five acres, and the potential for additional construction on the remaining land will be dictated by the growth of the surrounding Wendell Falls development.

“In the future there may be an opportunity for the development of health care practices like dentists or orthodontists,” Cavender said.

The site is 15 miles east of downtown Raleigh next to the intersection of U.S. Route 64 and Wendell Falls Parkway.

The health care provider, which reported a revenue of over $1.3 billion last fiscal year, is counting on the growth of the 1,100-acre Wendell Falls development, which is anticipated to triple Wendell’s population of nearly 7,000 once completed. This location will be in a section of Wendell Falls known as The Collective, an area designated for office and commercial space.

Wendell Falls has 4,000 planned homes in addition to two million square feet of retail space. According to the property’s planner, more than 750 families have moved in since it debuted in 2015.

WakeMed is analyzing the range of departments that the multi-specialty practice will have — such as cardiology, OB-GYN and pediatric care. Design work will begin early next year with an estimated late 2022 completion date.

The size of the facillity is estimated at 35,000 to 45,000 square feet with an estimated price of $200 per square foot. It will likely resemble the company’s Brier Creek and Garner campuses.

WakeMed’s market in the area is being evaluated to determine if a standalone emergency department will be added.

Information provided by News&Observer