Governor Maura Healey signed legislation this week that allows the state to seize the Norwood Hospital property through eminent domain. This decision follows years of stalled progress after the facility closed in 2020 due to significant flood damage.
The hospital property has sat vacant since the initial attempts to rebuild were abandoned. While the site remains under the ownership of Medical Properties Trust, no clear path to reopening has materialized. State officials and local representatives argue that the current owner has failed to secure a qualified operator to restore critical care services to the region.
Under the new law, the Commonwealth has a deadline of November 1 to reach a deal with the property owner. If no agreement exists by that date, the state is authorized to take control of the 11-acre site to move forward with plans for the facility. This action comes after persistent pressure from local leaders who cite the urgent need for a hospital in the community.
More than 1,000 former employees were displaced when the hospital shut its doors following the flood. Local representatives have described the ongoing lack of progress as a major failure of management, noting that the site remains an eyesore and a lost resource for residents who lack immediate access to nearby emergency care. The state now has the legal authority to break this stalemate.