Lee Health’s Board of Directors has green-lighted another major land buy in Cape Coral with the intent to “create a medical destination in a high-growth area of Southwest Florida’s largest city.”

The board approved the purchase of 57 acres along southwest Pine Island Road at a meeting held last week.

“This purchase is a continuation of the investment Lee Health is making in the City of Cape Coral,” said Lee Health Spokesperson Mary Briggs in an email to The Breeze Monday.

Briggs added that specific medical services to be offered at this site have yet to be discussed.

Lee Health is not the first major business entity to eye the prime parcel. The acreage along Pine Island Road recently was tendered to the city as a development project which officials confirmed was intended as the future home of an Amazon warehouse until members of the adjacent Sandoval Community raised concerns.

The site’s location along the burgeoning Pine Island corridor makes it ripe for development of some sort, city officials said.

“It’s such a significant parcel of land because of its location,” said District 3 City Councilmember Tom Hayden. “To have our health system interested in putting possibly a medical complex there, or possibly be looking at it as a second hospital — at least a clinic — is important for the health and growth of the city.”

Lee Heath has already announced its intent to make a major investment in the city.

In August, it announced the purchase of a 22.7-acre parcel, also along southwest Pine Island Road, where it anticipates the construction of a health care facility similar to Lee Health Coconut Point in Estero.

Lee Health Coconut Point offers a combination of physician offices, diagnostic testing, pharmacy, laboratory, emergency department, outpatient surgery, observation beds and other health care services. Lee Health said it plans to bring the same convenience to its new facility in Cape Coral.

Also in August, it announced a major expansion of Cape Coral Hospital’s ICU and Emergency Department.

The 12-bed expansion of the ICU will increase the number of available beds from 22 to 34. The expansion of the emergency department will create six additional treatment bays and a 12-bed observation unit, which will allow patients to be monitored for up to 24 hours without being admitted to the hospital.

Additionally, the health system is developing an Internal Medicine Residency Program in the city in partnership with the Florida State University College of Medicine. The program will launch next year.

Other approved projects include:

* The construction of new multi-use building on the southeast corner of Palm Tree Boulevard and Cape Coral Parkway.

Known as Bimini Basin, this project will include a large medical office footprint and apartment units located on top of the medical space, officials said.

* A 14,000-square-foot expansion at the Lee Health Surfside facility which will bring additional specialty services and a comprehensive rehabilitation center to that area of the Cape. Surfside features primary care physician offices, radiology, lab services, specialty offices for allergies and Lee Health’s Breast Health Center.

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