Livingston HealthCare (LHC) is announcing today that it has been working
with the Ted and Georgeann Watson family to acquire 100 acres of undeveloped
land adjacent to LHC’s campus.
The Watsons are using a charitable giving tool that lowers the asking price
of the property in a way that makes the acquisition feasible for the hospital.
The Watson family has a history of donating portions of their ranch. They
donated land to the city of Livingston for riverfront trails, as well
as the 20 acres that Livingston HealthCare’s hospital and clinic
currently occupy.
The Watson family has a long history of ranching on the land, dating back
to the mid-1950s when Georgeann Watson’s parents bought the ranch.
“Given our close proximity to the community of Livingston, we’ve
always strived to be good neighbors while envisioning ways the land could
benefit our town as it grows. We are proud of how the development of the
hospital set the stage for what can happen on this adjacent acreage,”
said Ted Watson.
“Acquiring this land is a strategic investment in our community,”
said Deb Anczak, CEO of LHC. “We will work with the community to
gather ideas about the best way to help develop this entry corridor.”
Using community input, LHC plans to create a development plan that will
help meet the desires of the community. Future development could include
affordable housing and businesses that complement the existing health
care campus.
“Once we have created a thoughtful master plan with community input,
we will seek developers interested in working on a carefully planned mixed-use
neighborhood. Ultimately, our investment will be returned when land is
sold, and Livingston will have a development that community members can
be proud of,” Anczak said. “We are so grateful to the Watson
family for their continued relationship with us which, in this case, gives
us this strategic opportunity to be involved in the planning for Livingston’s
growth and development.”
“In today’s real estate environment, well-planned developments
that address the needs of a community are thriving,” said LHC Foundation
Board member, Pat Gilligan, who is a retired commercial real estate owner
and investor. “Having our community hospital step forward to invest
in our future shows their commitment to a healthy community for everyone
they serve. This is a win-win opportunity.”
CONTACT:
Whitney Harris, Marketing and Communications Manager
Whitney.Harris@LivingstonHealthCare.org 406.823.6261