A day after Children's Hospital announced it would buy the former Bethesda Oak Hospital site, nearby Avondale residents say anything is better than vacant buildings.

        “It was sad to see the doors close,” said Virginia Smith of Walnut Hill, who was born at the hospital. “It was just the latest institution to close in this neighborhood.”

        Bethesda Oak closed to patients on Feb. 4, 2000, but some offices in the complex remained open.

        “But I'm glad to hear something is moving into the old (buildings),” said Mrs. Smith while shopping in Avondale. “It might never be a hospital again, but it's better than nothing.”

        The “For Sale” signs still remained in front of the old hospital on Saturday, and many residents were unaware of the pending sale.

        Officials from both hospitals have been tight-lipped about the sale. They have not released the sale price, saying it will be made public when the deal is closed early next year.

        “Children's Hospital is a good thing,” Thomas Howard, 45, of Avondale. “They do a lot of good things for a lot of kids. Maybe this will help in the revitalization efforts in Avondale.”

        The Bethesda Oak campus is more than a single hospital building. The 15-acre site includes 14 buildings, a skywalk and two parking garages totaling more than 1.1 million square feet.

        “If Children's Hospital needs to expand, it makes sense they buy Bethesda. The two hospitals are just around the corner from each other,” said Starley Watts, 28, of Avondale. “But what does Children's want to do with the Bethesda site?”

        Officials have said about half of the campus will be turned into office space by Children's and used for non-clinical activities. TriHealth — a partnership of Good Samaritan and Bethesda North hospitals — will occupy the rest of the buildings under a five-year lease agreement.

        “All we hear about is places closing,” said Tamika Haddix, 33, of Corryville. “Jewish (Hospital) closed a few years ago. Then it was Bethesda. It's good to hear someone is expanding. Maybe Children's will turn it back into a hospital.”

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