Subsequent to the relocation of HCA Hospital and structure demolition, a private public partnership was created by HCA, E2lholdings, and the City of New Port Richey in an attempt to secure the proposed Veterans Administration (VA) hospital development on the existing HCA former hospital site located east of Grand Blvd., south of High St., north of Cecelia Dr., and west of George St. As part of the package submittal to the VA requires the City to have ownership of all right of ways and easements inside and adjacent to the site. Currently all roads adjacent to the site are owned by the City except for a portion of George St. As City Council may recall, the City owns and maintains George St. from School Rd. north to Gulf Dr. and Pasco County owns George St. from School Rd. south to Cecelia Dr. adjacent to the east of Gulf High School. In addition to the VA requirement, dual ownership of George St. has created several issues between the County, the City, and City residents over the years such as permit delays for City construction projects, permit delays for utility repairs, restoration delays due do inspections, conflicting policies such as animal DOA pickups, roadway closure due to storm events, and maintenance of roadway services.
Subsequent to discussion between City and County staff, it was agreed that a transfer of ownership would solve or eliminate the utility issues as well as the confusion experienced by City residents who owned property along the roadway and expected the same roadway maintenance level of service received by other residents, in addition to fulfilling the VA requirement.