Mixed Reactions After New Primary Children’s Location Announced

LEHI, Utah – Residents in Utah County expressed mixed emotions after news broke of a hospital being built near their neighborhood.

Lehi Mayor Mark Johnson said getting a new Primary Children’s Hospital campus in the city was a “blue ribbon opportunity.”

The historic announcement by Intermountain Health Care came during a press conference Tuesday morning, when a new national model health system was unveiled.

The $500 million project includes a $50 million grant from Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller and her family.

“We understand the value of money and what it can do,” Miller told KSL. “It means that we understand the importance of health care, and what it means to the community. It means that kids all over the intermountain west will have an opportunity to live healthier lives.”

According to the city of Lehi, the hospital will be located on the north side of 2100 North, west of I-15 and just west of the Jordan River.

“If they were going to come into town and I could pick a spot, this is the best place for them to be located,” Johnson said. “This is fantastic. This will be our second hospital.”

It’s no secret Lehi has been bursting at the seams. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. Mayor Johnson said with the new freeway changes being made along Interstate 15, there will be plenty of room and infrastructure to handle a hospital this size.

“We’ll make sure that connectivity issues in regards to traffic will be met,” said Johnson. “We’ve had discussions with UDOT and UTA to make sure it will all be met.”

Some homeowners whose backyards look into the open field that will become the hospital, this was not a day to celebrate.

They said they were concerned about a five story hospital going in next to their homes.

“I’m not cheering. I’m not ecstatic,” said resident Kelli Egan. “They say hospitals raise property values, and obviously it’s nice when you’re raising kids to have a hospital close, but there are also concerns of traffic noise from helicopters. Are there going to be privacy issues? Are people going to be looking right into my windows at night?”

Those were also some of the concerns from Mallori Campbell.

“I think the privacy and the lights are going to be a big issue. People coming and going – a lot of strangers,” she said. “People can see into our houses, (and) kids playing in the back yard. I don’t like it.”

Resident Melissa Holmes said she believed the hospital will be a great thing.

“I’m super excited,” she said. “I love that hospitals keep their facilities very cleaned up, very nice. I think a hospital is a great neighbor. I think it will be nice to have the peace of mind that there is a hospital if anyone needs it.”