Riverside's Chief Operating Officer, William B. Downey, stated that "Riverside is firmly committed to enhancing its community-controlled, patient-oriented, doctor-directed, and health system-assisted services in the community. The visibility, accessibility and proximity of this property will provide the citizens of the greater Williamsburg community the convenience and choice they deserve."
According to Colin G. Campbell, President of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Colonial Williamsburg acquired the land between 1953 and 1960 at a time when Foundation officials believed it wise to purchase nearby land to protect the city's history and unique aesthetic qualities. The land to be sold is used by Colonial Williamsburg only sparingly for storage. "We feel confident that adequate infrastructure, long-range vision, and safeguards exist within our local jurisdictions for the Foundation to divest itself of selected non-core real estate holdings." He further stated that the pending sale is in accordance with the Foundation's strategic plan. “The proceeds from this land sale would be a good source of funds for the Foundation’s high priority capital projects," Campbell said.
The health care and mixed use development to be generally known as “Quarterpath at Williamsburg” is being designed in accordance with the existing comprehensive land use plan of the City of Williamsburg by Sasaki & Associates, Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts which is providing strategic design and technical expertise to enhance the planning, construction and environmental sensitivity of the entire project.
Riverside, a nonstock, nonprofit corporation based in Newport News, Virginia, was founded in 1917 and currently employs over 7,000 individuals serving approximately 750,000 citizens of the Commonwealth on the Southside, Peninsula, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck areas of Virginia. It owns and operates acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, retirement communities, wellness and fitness centers and nursing and other professional schools for health-related occupations.
In the Williamsburg area alone, Riverside already has invested over $60 million in facilities that include Patriot's Colony Retirement Community, Williamsburg Medical Arts Urgent Care Center, dialysis facilities and Riverside Diagnostic Center and Medical Office Building. In addition, Riverside is a joint venture member with Sentara-Williamsburg Community Hospital in the Williamsburg Radiation Therapy Center and with area physicians in the Doctors' Surgery Center of Williamsburg.