Plans to launch a medical campus in Butler County that would be a few steps short of a full-blown hospital moved forward Thursday when UC Physicians announced closing a deal to buy 45 acres in West Chester Township for $4.9 million.

        Construction at its “Campus North Project” would start in spring with a 40,000-square-foot office building to be complete by fall 2002.

        While the first building is intended to house specialty physicians who patients normally must drive to Corryville to see, the long-term plans call for many other uses of the McGinnis Park site, near Cox and Tylersville roads.

        “We think that in 10 to 15 years this area will be the center of the Cincinnati-Dayton metroplex,” said John Gillespie, director of marketing and development for UC Physicians, a group of specialists mostly affiliated with the UC College of Medicine.

        West Chester Township, which owned the land, approved the sale in concept in August. Trustees have praised the idea of bringing more high-tech medicine to Butler County.

        Eventually, the campus could be expanded to 75 acres and could feature ambulatory surgery, emergency care, pediatric care, high-tech diagnostic services, a fitness center, extended care facilities and maybe even a helipad, Mr. Gillespie said.

        The few differences between the medical campus and a full-service hospital include beds for overnight care, intensive care units and birthing suites.

        If West Chester continues its rapid growth, building a hospital there is a possibility.

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