Baptist Health and Seale Harris Clinic have signed leases as the lead tenants of the Riverwalk Health & Wellness Center, the medical hub planned for a former Regions Bank office tower in Hoover’s Riverchase office park.
The Hoover Health Care Authority, the City of Hoover and developer CR Endeavors announced the leases on Wednesday. The center is expected to open in early 2028.
For Hoover, the leases fill the anchor slots in a project city leaders have pursued for years. The city of about 92,000 residents has long worked to bring a large-scale healthcare provider inside the city limits. The City Council voted in 2023 to clear the way for Riverwalk Village on projections of a $2.5 billion economic impact over 10 years.
Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis, who spent 20 years as the city’s police chief before voters elected him mayor last year, welcomed both tenants.
“Having Baptist Health and Seale Harris Clinic commit to Riverwalk is a strong sign this project is delivering on its promised potential,” Derzis said. “These are both trusted healthcare providers that will bring much needed wellness, diagnostic and restorative health services close to home while improving our residents’ quality of life.”
Baptist Health will initially occupy about 25% of the center across one and a half floors. The space will hold a multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center and a multi-specialty clinic.
The system operates five Central Alabama hospitals, including Baptist Health Shelby Hospital in Alabaster. Orlando Health acquired a 70% stake in the system from Tenet Healthcare in 2024 for about $910 million.
“We see Riverwalk as an important extension of our availability to provide healthcare for patients,” said Kevin Flynn, chief administrative officer for Baptist Health. “Baptist Health is prepared to bring quality services both clinically and through the ambulatory surgery center so patients in Hoover and across Central Alabama can be better served.”
Seale Harris Clinic is a primary care and family medicine practice in Central Alabama. Dr. Seale Harris, a Birmingham physician known for his diabetes research, opened the clinic in 1922.
“Over 100 years ago, Dr. Seale Harris began a practice founded on meeting patients’ needs and providing reliable service,” said Lorie Box, the clinic’s administrator. “We continue that tradition today with same-day appointments and a caring approach to healthcare. The Riverwalk Seale Harris Clinic will carry forward our founder’s commitment that patients come first.”
Riverwalk Village was unveiled in 2023 as a 90-acre mixed-use district on the former Regions campus off Riverchase Parkway. The authority filed for a certificate of need in January 2024, and the state Certificate of Need Review Board approved the plan for an outpatient surgery and diagnostics center that September. The authority selected Solara Surgical Partners last December to operate the surgery center.
Signature Homes bought 24 acres in the district and is building and selling homes there.
“More are to come, as we have had a steady interest and are ahead of projections in sales,” said Jonathan Belcher, CEO of Signature Homes. “This was a dream to develop homes in this beautiful setting, and our homebuyers are excited about everything happening on the Riverwalk Health & Wellness Center campus.”
Christy Roddy is chief strategy officer for CR Endeavors, the master developer of the center.
“Riverwalk Health & Wellness Center was designed to bring together leading healthcare providers in a setting that promotes health, healing and quality of life,” Roddy said. “We are excited to welcome Baptist Health and Seale Harris as foundational partners in creating a destination that will serve Hoover and the region for generations to come.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
