Expansion of Canton medical complex revived

CANTON — Canton-Potsdam Hospital is dusting off an expansion project for its E.J. Noble Medical complex that it shelved in 2006.

"I believe it's a go," hospital spokeswoman Rebecca J. Sutcliffe said. "We still have some of the details to work out."

The hospital delayed the project several years ago when Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Krasnauskas left and it hired David B. Acker to replace him.

"To go ahead with a building project when you're going through a major change doesn't make sense," Ms. Sutcliffe said.

The hospital had been considering reworking the project anyway to cut its cost.

Initial thoughts are to build an addition on the side of the East Main Street building toward the St. Lawrence University golf course rather than at the front of the building as envisioned under the original plan.

"It works better with the site," Ms. Sutcliffe said.

The purpose of the two-story addition will be for physicians' offices, although it isn't clear yet who will move in.

"It depends on the physicians in the building," she said.

The hospital also is expecting to add two primary care physicians this summer but isn't sure yet where their offices will be.

The size of the addition and a price range haven't been decided yet.

"We have to work things out with the physicians first," Ms. Sutcliffe said.

If enough space was freed up in the main building, the hospital would expand its after-hours clinic.

The hospital is debating whether the addition should have its own entrance or share one with the main building, Ms. Sutcliffe said.