PCI hasn’t justified need for medical mall

After attending the forum Tuesday evening about the medical district and reading the account in Wednesday's paper about the event, I am not persuaded by the reasons given for the non-participation by spokespersons from both hospitals and Physicians' Clinic of Iowa.

Before embarking on a project of such magnitude, investors prudently have studies that indicate a large-enough market to predict the likely success of such a project. The results usually are required by any financial institution underwriting such a project.

The results of such studies have not been shared with the residents of Cedar Rapids, to my knowledge. Yet the taxpayers of Cedar Rapids are being asked to help financially underwrite the project.

The city of Cedar Rapids is being asked to finance a parking structure as well as other infrastructure improvements and the costs of closing a street. With the proximity of tertiary care facilities in Iowa City (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics) and Rochester (Mayo Clinic), will there be enough “customers” for the PCI medical mall to make it financially viable for the taxpayers of Cedar Rapids/Linn County?

Kay Halloran

Cedar Rapids