Allegheny Health Network to start building Harmar hospital next month

The construction of Allegheny Health Network’s neighborhood hospital in Harmar is moving forward after being delayed for more than six months.

AHN spokesman Daniel Laurent said construction is expected to start in July but couldn’t immediately provide a specific date.

“We can’t wait to get started,” Laurent said.

AHN officials initially hoped construction would start shortly after a ceremonial groundbreaking in October, but the lot has remained empty with no construction started.

The site for the hospital is at Guys Run and Freeport roads next to the Zone 28 bowling alley and entertainment center.

AHN officials previously said the project was delayed as the company worked to finalize leasing and land agreements related to the site.

Harmar supervisors gave their approval for the facility in July. Earlier last year, officials changed the zoning ordinance to designate hospitals, health care facilities and urgent care centers as permitted uses in the township’s commercial zones.

The facility will be a 24-hour emergency care hospital that will also offer other medical services such as lab tests, imaging services and inpatient care.

AHN formed a joint venture with Texas-based Emerus, a developer and operator of neighborhood hospitals, to build four such facilities in the Pittsburgh area. The others will be in McCandless, Hempfield and Brentwood.

AHN officials previously said they chose Harmar because there is a high number of patients and network members in the area. It’s also situated between Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison and an outpatient facility near Fox Chapel.

It’s also about 6 miles from competitor UPMC’s St. Margaret hospital near Aspinwall, 10 miles from AHN’s Allegheny Valley Hospital and 12 miles from its flagship hospital, Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh’s North Side.