A $35 million, 40-bed rehabilitation hospital is coming to Oak Creek

A $35 million, 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital is planned near IKEA in Oak Creek.

Highgate, LLC is proposing the construction of Lifepoint Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital at 7869 S. 13th St. on the northwestern corner of 13th Street and Drexel Avenue.

A similar facility, touted at the time as a neighborhood community hospital with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, was proposed for the site six years ago but never came to fruition.

City Administrator Andrew Vickers previously said this facility will not be utilized for mental or behavioral rehabilitation . Mayor Dan Bukiewicz also said at the city's Aug. 13 Plan Commission meeting that this is not an emergency room-type of hospital.

Instead, Oak Creek Community Development Director Kristi Laine explained to the commission that the facility will be for occupational or physical therapy.

The facility will be utilized by individuals who were in a hospital and “they’re ready to kick you out but you’re not ready to go home,” she said. The average stay at this rehabilitation facility is estimated to be seven days or less.

“There’s quite a shortage of these type of facilities in the Milwaukee area,” Laine said.

Lifepoint will employ 100 people with 50 employees on staff during peak times. There will be three shifts and the facility will be open 24 hours a day.

In addition to the hospital building, which will be constructed nearly entirely of face brick, plans for the 4.06-acre site call for 117 parking spaces (including 10 ADA stalls) for employees and patients. raSmith is the engineer and landscape architect for the project.

Plan Commission sings design praises of the hospital

Most of the commissioners, who unanimously approved the site and related plans, said it will be a great looking building.

“(We) always wanted a nice signature building for that development and I think you found it,” Bukiewicz said, adding it “fits the style” of Oak Creek.

Construction is expected to start in late 2024 or early 2025 with completion between 11 and 14 months after groundbreaking.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com . Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner , and follow him on X @Redheadliner .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A $35 million, 40-bed rehabilitation hospital is coming to Oak Creek