NSMC News Releases

After thorough review and planning, North Shore Medical Center (NSMC) has selected a proposal submitted by the Lynnfield-based Procopio Companies for the sale and redevelopment of approximately 15 acres of the NSMC Union Hospital Campus in Lynn.

"The Procopio Companies proposal incorporates development objectives that were identified by the City, community groups and local neighbors during a comprehensive planning process,” says NSMC President David J. Roberts, M.D. “We are encouraged that the proposal seeks to serve important needs of Lynn residents and complement the health care services we will continue to provide on the Union Campus.”

NSMC is consolidating Union and Salem hospitals and will be vacating the current NSMC Union Hospital buildings next spring and selling approximately three quarters of the 20-acre Lynn property for development.

The Procopio Companies proposal outlines a mixed-use development that includes age-restricted residential apartments and townhouses as well as small retail and open space on the street level. Developers also plan to reserve a portion of the units for income-qualifying seniors and to explore additional programs such as nutrition, exercise and health education that support aging in place and enhance quality of life.

Michael Procopio, Vice President of Development for The Procopio Companies, said his firm was “honored” to be selected for the project. “We recognize the importance of this project and the positive impact that the redevelopment of the Union Hospital campus will have on the Greater Lynn community,” said Procopio. “We look forward to continuing our work with the City of Lynn to create a project that meets the needs of all stakeholders.”

A city-led planning process completed last year identified senior housing as the preferred option for redeveloping the Union Hospital site, and included local residents, Lynn city officials, social service agencies, community groups, health advocates and NSMC. Through a series of public forums and interviews, participants reviewed the pros and cons of various redevelopment options and selected senior housing as the one most in line with local preferences and needs.

NSMC is retaining approximately one-quarter of the Union Hospital site and constructing a 42,000 square-foot ‘medical village’ there. Under construction today and opening in May 2020, the outpatient building will include Partners Urgent Care, North Shore Physicians Group primary and specialty physicians, imaging (mammography, x-ray, ultrasound and bone density), outpatient behavioral health and access to lab services such as blood drawing.

“The medical village can also be an important partner with The Procopio Companies project, providing valuable health services to senior residents in the neighborhood,” says Roberts.

Now that a proposal has been selected by NSMC, The Procopio Companies will work with the City to develop more detailed plans, determine feasibility and evaluate the zoning and approval process. NSMC hopes to complete the sale of the property by June 2020.

The NSMC Union Hospital site has become available as NSMC moves ahead to consolidate Salem and Union hospitals into a single, expanded state-of-the-art facility in Salem. As part of this transition, the Emergency Department at Union Hospital closed on November 3 and a new, expanded Emergency Department opened in Salem that same day, to serve North Shore patients.

Urgent care will continue to be available in the former NSMC Union Hospital Emergency Department on the Union Campus until May 2020, when services will move into the medical village under construction on the site. The NSMC Urgent Care Center is appropriate for conditions such as coughs, minor burns, sprains, rashes and simple fractures.

An array of other outpatient services such as imaging, cardiac/pulmonary rehab, wellness services, outpatient behavioral health, physician offices and access to lab services also remain available at NSMC Union Hospital until next spring and many of those services will remain in the medical village after that.

In addition to the $30 million medical village commitment, NSMC has provided significant support for a range of health services that benefit Lynn residents and families. In recent years, that support has included: 

• $5 million toward the 2017 expansion of the Lynn Community Health Center (LCHC) facility
• Over $1 million annually to support LCHC
• Over $2 million to create the LCHC/Bridgewell Recuperative Care Center, a 14-bed facility that provides short-term residential medical care and support services for homeless individuals
• Significant investment in Greater Lynn Senior Services
• Expansion of the Student Success Youth Employment programs for Lynn high school students
• Recovery coaches and access to effective treatment for patients with substance use disorders
• Expanded specialty medical services for patients of the LCHC
• Support for teen pregnancy and domestic violence initiatives

NSMC will continue to explore opportunities for partnering with the City and health advocates to serve the ongoing health needs of Lynn residents. “Caring for Lynn families is a key part of our mission and history and remains a core element of our commitment for the future,” says Roberts.

NSMC (North Shore Medical Center) is a multi-site health system headquartered in Salem, Mass., which includes NSMC Salem Hospital, NSMC Union Hospital in Lynn, MassGeneral for Children at North Shore Medical Center, NSMC Heart Center, NSMC Women’s Center and the physician network known as North Shore Physicians Group. NSMC and Massachusetts General Hospital together provide care at the Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care and the Mass General/North Shore Cancer Center in Danvers. NSMC is a member of Partners HealthCare, which was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. #northshoremed