A New Hospital Is Planned For Metropolitan Parkway: Announcement Comes A Few Years After Controversial Closures Of Medical Facilities On Boulevard And East Point

Southwest Atlanta and East Point is poised to receive a transformative healthcare boost following state approval for a massive, multi-million-dollar teaching hospital at 675 Metropolitan Parkway SW.

A new teaching hospital planned for southwest Atlanta could bring emergency, specialty and primary care closer to communities where some residents say accessing health care has become increasingly difficult since the closures of Atlanta Medical Center on Boulevard and Atlanta Medical Center South in East Point.

The announcement is welcome news for care-seekers in southwest Atlanta and East Point.

Morehouse School of Medicine and Atrium Health have received state approval to move forward with the hospital planned for 675 Metropolitan Parkway SW. Atrium Health has committed more than $700 million toward the hospital and a broader network of health care services.

The project, spearheaded by the Morehouse School of Medicine and Atrium Health, aims to fill the severe medical care void left by the abrupt and controversial 2022 closures of Atlanta Medical Center on Boulevard and Atlanta Medical Center South in East Point.

A Historic Medical Investment

The upcoming acute-care hospital will anchor a broader medical and community campus at “The MET,” a historic 1.1 million-square-foot former warehouse complex. Atrium Health has committed over $700 million in capital and clinical investments toward the project.

The City of Atlanta expects to inject more than $115 million into the development. These local funds will focus on site preparation, advanced medical equipment, and critical pedestrian and roadway infrastructure surrounding the Metropolitan Parkway corridor.

Scaling to Meet Critical Needs

The state-approved facility will open with an initial capacity of 50 beds. However,the expectation is to scale to up to more than 700 beds over time to accommodate the long-term needs of area residents.

Key services slated for the teaching hospital include:

A 24/7 full-service emergency department

A Level III trauma center

Comprehensive obstetrics and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) services

Adult critical care units

Advanced imaging and interventional radiology suites

An interconnected network of primary, urgent, and specialty care clinics

Local Funding Debates Continue

While state regulatory approval is officially locked in, local government leaders are still iron out the final financial puzzle pieces. The Atlanta City Council has heavily pressured Fulton County officials to commit $200 million toward the project. Fulton County commissioners are currently evaluating how to balance this massive funding request alongside their ongoing investments in regional health equity.

An official groundbreaking timeline and projected opening date have not yet been announced as local leaders finalize the intergovernmental funding agreements.