A development team headed by David Nunes, left, Henry Gotfryd, Domenic Fuda and others, has submitted Photo by Chris Simon an Expression of Interest to the town, for the construction of a 40,000 square foot medical facility. Bridging the medical gap Two developers are looking to make a health centre a reality for Innisfil.

The Gotfryd Group, in conjunction with a team of medical and architectural experts, is one of two groups that submitted a formal Expression of Interest to the town this week.

The Gotfryd plans include the construction of a 40,000 square foot medical facility close to the municipal campus, which sits near the Yonge Street and Innisfil Beach Road intersection. The 2.5 acre stretch of property is currently owned by the town.

However, council has been taking steps to seek potential partners for the land's conversion since October 2008. In November, staff were asked to proceed with an Expression of Interest, the first step in gauging potential partners for the site.

"We will build this over time, as the town grows," said Gotfryd Group owner Henry Gotfryd, during an interview with The Scope Monday.

"We have six people literally waiting to open up pieces of this (facility), and fill the first 10,000 to 15,000 square feet. We (want to) build, manage, operate and staff this building."

Gotfryd has planned over 500 projects throughout the region, including work on Orillia Soldiers' and Humber memorial hospitals, and several nursing and retirement homes.

The proposed facility would be constructed in phases, and eventually include family physician practices, an urgent care centre, eye and fracture clinics, aestetic surgery, diagnostic (X-ray, ultrasound and MRI) imaging, dermatology, orthopedic, pediatrician, physiotherapy, physciatry and dentistry services, among others, he said.

The site would also include a pharmacy, retail store and cafe.

"Basically, we're wanting to provide most, if not all the services that are needed by Innisfil residents," said Surgidex Corporation founder David Nunes, a partner in the proposal. "It's hoped to provide services to the community and within a 50 kilometre radius, and take the overflow from local hospitals. Health care providers are very excited to be participating. They know Innisfil is a growing community; this is somewhere where they can establish their roots and build a practice. This is a perfect location.

"We know we can deliver the vision in a short period of time. The people of Innisfil need this centre."

Mayor Brian Jackson is cautiously optimistic about the construction of a medical facility. Although the site is necessary, it is still in the preliminary planning stages. Staff will need to analyze each proposal submitted to the town, and prepare a report for council to review.

After that, a deal would still need to be reached between a chosen developer and the municipality.

"It gives us the opportunity to fill the need we have, being under serviced," said Jackson. "We'll go through this at the staff level, and see if there's any merit to proceeding. It’s still up in the air a bit. (But) it's exciting that we had two (submissions). It's an opportunity to work with the private sector to fill that gap; there's some interest. We can all win with that."

Gotfryd says he would be willing to purchase the property from the town, if council agrees to pay for the installation of municipal water and wastewater services at the site, and helps the group get its required permits and licences smoothly.

"All the people that are part of our team are either in the health field, or have serviced it," he said. "I'm not asking they give me the land, maybe I'll purchase it at a fair market rate. That's something I'd be willing to negotiate."

If a deal is reached with the town, construction could begin about one year later, says Gotfryd.

Due to the privacy restrictions around the Expression of Interest, The Scope was unable to obtain the name of the second development group that submitted documentation to the town.