Public Invited To Discuss Future Of Harford Memorial Hospital Site In Havre de Grace

HAVRE DE GRACE - The City of Havre de Grace is inviting residents to a public hearing to share their ideas and suggestions for the redevelopment of the Harford Memorial Hospital site.

Harford Memorial holds a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. The property, originally a 21-room Queen Anne-style mansion designed by renowned Baltimore architect George A. Frederick in 1891, was sold to a group of citizens aiming to establish a hospital in 1911. The Havre de Grace Hospital was inaugurated on January 1, 1912, with the admission of a farm accident victim, according to Historic Havre de Grace.

In 1942, ground was broken for a new building, which was later renamed Harford Memorial Hospital. The original Baker mansion was demolished in 1951, and the hospital underwent further expansions in the late 1960s and early 1980s.

In 2013, the hospital merged with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and Upper Chesapeake Health to become the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, later known as the University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital.

According to University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital, the building has "outlived its useful life."

"Renovation of the facility is not cost-effective and the nine acre site in downtown Havre de Grace is surrounded by existing developed parcels, limiting a practical opportunity for renovation or expansion," the medical centers wrote in 2019. 

The hospital is scheduled to cease operations by spring 2024, as confirmed by a University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health representative. 

The closure is due to the completion of a new bed tower at the Bel Air campus, along with the opening of a new medical center in Aberdeen and an ambulatory surgery center in Bel Air.

The redevelopment of UM Harford Memorial Hospital, especially given its crucial location at the intersection of Union Avenue and Revolution Street, has been a primary concern for the residents of Old Town.

The Envision Havre de Grace project identified redeveloping the hospital as vital for defining the character of Union Avenue.

The public comment session will occur at the Opera House, 121 N. Union Avenue, on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Written public comments may be sent to Havre de Grace Director of Planning Tim Bourcier at timothyb@havredegracemd.com

The meeting will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. To access the live stream, visit the City of Havre de Grace website at www.havredegracemd.com and click the live stream video icon.

More News from Havre de Grace

• Cassilly Urges Review Of Councilman's Eligibility Amid Sheriff's Deputy Appointment The Harford County Executive is calling on the county council to remove Aaron Penman due to his position as a sheriff's deputy - echoing previous conflicts with Jacob Bennett.
• Kachina, Maryland's Leading K9 Arson Detective, Bids Farewell After Stellar Eight-Year Career The ten-year-old black lab will conclude her service with a list of accomplishments rivaling any top detective.