Philadelphia hospital to remain closed amid coronavirus pandemic after owner demands big fee: report

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Investor Joel Freedman tried to "make a buck" off of the coronavirus crisis, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney claims

Igor Derysh
March 31, 2020 10:52PM (UTC)

Philadelphia scrapped plans to reopen an empty hospital that could house nearly 500 patients amid the coronavirus pandemic after its owner demanded the city pay him nearly $1 million per month.

The city hoped to use the shuttered Hahnemann University Hospital as it raced to find available beds to handle the rising number of patients with the coronavirus. Philadelphia has been one of the hardest-hit cities, reporting more than 1,300 confirmed cases and 14 deaths.

But the hospital will remain empty after owner Joel Freedman, a California real estate investor, demanded that the city either buy the property or pay him almost $1 million per month in rent and other costs, according to The New York Times.

The hospital shut down in September 2019 after suffering millions of dollars in losses.

A spokesperson for Freedman argued that the costs were far less than what two hospitals in California charged to use those facilities.

"Anyone looking at the apples-to-apples comparison can see that Mr. Freedman not only desired to be helpful to the city of Philadelphia and its leaders, but he was very reasonable," spokesman Sam Singer told the outlet. "We're disappointed that they didn't accept what we offered, but we stand ready to be helpful to the city or the state if they want to reopen discussions."

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https://www.salon.com/2020/03/31/philadelphia-hospital-to-remain-closed-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-after-owner-demands-big-fee-report/

[Coventina]

1. Death to Vulture Capitalists!!

[superpatriotman]

2. +1

Guillotines on the National Mall

[nykym]

3. One phrase!

Eminent Domain.

[PCIntern]

4. That's very tough to do here in Philly

For good reasons...in the past they stole properties from people they didn’t like.

[lpbk2713]

5. Keep it shut and raise his taxes.

The property is more valuable now so he should pay more taxes.

Go ahead asshole, play games.

[Historic NY]

6. Could they just appropiate it under emergency provisions of the Stafford Act

[link:https://www.timesleader.com/news/778370/trump-approves-pennsylvania-disaster-declaration|]

[sdfernando]

7. Use eminent domain, or condemn the property and take over.

Mr. Freedman doesn't understand the concept of "good will". An equitable agreement could have been worked out while the hospital was open and saving lives! We now know which altar Mr. Freedman worships at.

[SheltieLover]

8. K&R

Repuke!🤮🤮🤮

[DeminPennswoods]

9. Gov Wolf is using a lot of executive power

under the emergency bill passed by the state legislature. Several groups have challenged his authority to shut businesses under the bill, but they've lost in court.

I think if Philly really needs the beds at Hahnemen that Wolf and Kenney would work together to take it under eminent domain. Given the court's decisions in the close business cases, I suspect the court would uphold their action.

[Freddie]

10. He bought the hospital to turn it into condos

Located in a “hot” area of the city. Who knows now. Hope the market for high-end condos tanks indefinitely.

[crickets]

11. I agree: Eminent Domain. For the public good during a pandemic, take that building.

Leave Joel Freedman standing in the dust with empty pockets and don't even look back. Make no mistake, his asking for a million dollars a month boils down to a hostage demand and should be smacked down hard.

What a soulless jackass.

[KWR65]

12. If they take the building under ED they still have to pay fair market value for it.

[crickets]

15. There's always a catch.

It does seem there should be some way to work out something more reasonable. If nothing else, I hope this jerk at least loses sleep over it.

[elias7]

16. It boils down to what is fair market value

That is not discussed in the article. Is the owner’s request reasonable or not?

I would like to think that a good egg would just donate the place, but I am not in his position. It is easy to be critical, but asking fair market price is not being a vulture.

[MagickMuffin]

13. 2 Words EMINENT DOMAIN

Freeman can just sit the hell down.

[Marrah_Goodman]

14. I hope the greedy prick catches it and dies

All alone, without a ventilator.