Elmcrest Hospital
| Elmcrest Hospital | |
|---|---|
| Private, Saint Francis Hospital | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Marlborough Road, Portland, Connecticut, United States |
| Organization | |
| Type | Psychiatric |
| Services | |
| Beds | 24[1] |
| History | |
| Opened | Circa 1942 |
| Closed | Circa 2006 |
| Links | |
| Lists | Hospitals in Connecticut |
Elmcrest Hospital, later St. Francis Care Behavioral Health, was a small psychiatric facility in Portland, Connecticut. Opened in 1942, the campus incorporated three historic mansions, including a childhood home of 1800s businesswoman Elizabeth Jarvis Colt. The facility was purchased by Saint Francis Hospital in 1997, and in 1998, the hospital underwent increased scrutiny when an 11-year-old patient died while being restrained by an employee. In 2003, inpatient services at the campus were discontinued, and patients were relocated to the Saint Francis Mount Sinai campus.[1]
Also in 2003, the Portland campus was sold to Hartford Hospital, who continued operating the outpatient and partial hospitalization services for children and teens at the site[2] through its affiliate the Rushford Center. Rushford discontinued operations at the site circa 2006. In 2006, developers proposed building condos and a shopping center anchored by a supermarket.[3][4] The plan drew criticism, as two of the three historic homes located on the campus would be demolished. The plan was active through at least 2009, however as of 2014, the campus remains vacant and no demolition has occurred.[5]
In August 2014, the town of Portland received a $50,000 grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, under its Vibrant Cities Initiative.[6] In early 2015, the town used the grant to hire a consultant to help guide development with a hopeful goal of rehabilitating the historical structures as part of an economically viable redevelopment. Community groups such as the Elmcrest Campus Advisory Committee has been and the Portland Historical Society have also been working to encourage redevelopment that preserves the structures.[7]
References
- ^ a b SEAY, GREGORY, "Former Elmcrest Hospital Moving Patients", The Hartford Courant August 02, 2003. Accessed April 30, 2014
- ^ Waldman, Hilary, and Staff W. Courant. "A MAJOR SHIFT AT ST. FRANCIS ; TO SELL ITS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES." Hartford Courant: 0. Sep 19 2003. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2014 .
- ^ Hamilton, Jesse, and Staff W. Courant. "PLAN WOULD REVAMP TOWN CROSSROADS ; MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED FOR 14-ACRE SITE." Hartford Courant: 0. Sep 14 2006. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2014 .
- ^ "Redevelopment Of Elmcrest Site Draws Near", Hartford Business, March 23, 2009, Accessed April 30, 2014
- ^ Mills, Jeff, "Portland residents call for town to remedy blighted Elmcrest property", The Middletown Press, April 14, 2014, Accessed April 30, 2014
- ^ Hesselberg, Erik. "Elmcrest Manor Property In Portland Gets Historic Preservation Grant". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ Hesselberg, Erik. "Portland Hires Consultant To Find Ways To Rescue Elmcrest Manor". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 24 February 2015.