7/30/2008
Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court Approves JPS Purchase of St. Joseph Hospital
FORT WORTH, TX – Today the Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court approved Tarrant County Hospital District’s purchase of the St. Joseph Hospital building from Diversified Capital. The vacant facility located at 1401 Main Street in Fort Worth, sits adjacent to John Peter Smith Hospital. Purchase price for the building is $5.1 million.
Though plans for the facility have not been determined, the purchase provides JPS the opportunity to carry out the original intent of the hospital, which was to provide health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. St. Joseph’s Hospital, the oldest hospital in Fort Worth, has been vacant since 2004. It was originally built in 1883 by the railroad. The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio began providing care in 1885. “I am glad it is going to be used for health care because it is an extension of what we were doing,” said Sister Frances. She began working at the facility in 1967, and is one of just a couple of nuns who used to work at the facility who still live in Fort Worth. “Our whole focus was on patient care,” she said.
Diversified Capital is a real estate investment company located in Lakewood, New Jersey. Bruce Stern, Vice President of Business Development, stated the company purchased the property in 2005, and originally intended to convert the hospital into an upscale retail and living space. “We’ve spent the past few years working on the project, but are truly pleased that the property will be owned by a health care facility again. The facility has come full circle,” he said.
Future use for the facility will be determined at a later date.
Interviews with JPS officials, Diversified Capital and Sister Frances are available upon request.