Existing comment:
United States Naval Hospital:
On 1 July 1972, the Naval Hospital was redesignated as Naval Regional Medical Center (NRMC) due to navy reorganization. In the same year, two San Diego Congressmen, Representatives Bob Wilson and Lionel Van Deerlin, approached the idea of building a new naval hospital outside Balboa Park. After years of controversy and litigation among the city's leaders, conservationists, and the Navy, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger made the final decision to built a new hospital on 39 acres in Florida Canyon, east of the existing original hospital site on Inspiration Point. In exchange for the 39 acres in Florida Canyon, the Navy deeded the acreage it held in Balboa Park, primarily Inspiration Point, back to San Diego.
On 3 October 1981, the Navy broke ground on its new medical center. In 1987, the new hospital was completed and the 760-bed facility opened as a state of the art medical center in medical technology and computerized information systems for health care and administration. An estimated 350,000 active and retired area personnel received improved care. However, the new architectural design was devoid of the Spanish style motif that was the hallmark of San Diego's Naval Buildings.
Following the opening of the new Naval Regional Medical Center, the original hospital complex was demolished. Several of the original buildings were retained and utilized for the service of the community. A section of the original hospital administration building is for city use. Equally, the original hospital chapel is now the site of the Veteran's Museum and Memorial Center. The exposition buildings once utilized by the hospital during the war years have remained and been revitalized as functional museums and galleries. |