Union Village planners expand project, submit master plan to Henderson

Developers submitted a master plan to the city of Henderson for the multibillion-dollar health care, residential and entertainment center known as Union Village.

The state-of-the-art project was unveiled in April 2011 and is slated to be built at U.S. Highway 95 and Galleria Drive.

According to David Micheal, a Union Village partner, the updated plan has expanded to 228 acres from its original 171 acres and includes Central Christian Church. The city of Henderson approved a land purchase agreement in June 2011.

Central Christian Church is now expected to be the anchor to Union Village. Union Centre, which is expected to have the health care center, has been moved to the site's southeast section.

"Now we have spiritual healing to the north while we have physical healing in the south," Micheal said.

The move also is supposed to allow easier access for the proposed acute care, cancer, continuing care and children's hospitals at the U.S. Highway 95 exit. Union Plaza, which is expected to house retail, restaurant, entertainment and residential facilities, is expected to be more visible with the rearranging of the facilities.

Geoff Sage, the chief financial officer and treasurer at Central Christian, said the church reached out to Union Village late last year.

"Since we are neighbors, we wanted to look at how we could be mutually beneficial to each other," Sage said. "We couldn't be more excited with the future prospect. Working with these guys has been great."

Sage said it is still too early in the process to determine what Central's role will be with the project. The church plans to keep its main Henderson campus at 1001 New Beginnings Way while Union Village expands to include the facility.

Union Village developers have contracted a traffic engineering company to look at how traffic flow could be affected and what improvements could be made now that the site has expanded.

As development of the site continues, the partners at Union Village have received international interest. Micheal said Chinese officials caught wind of the project and wanted to travel to Henderson to learn more.

Union Village developers, along with state and city officials, met in June with Chinese delegates, including members of China's Chamber of Commerce.

"It was a remarkable event," Micheal said. "China has got an aging baby boomer population just like we do."

At the meeting, Gao Zhansheng, one of the delegates, was impressed with the project, Micheal said.

"He said when he saw the project in December, it was love at first sight," Micheal recalled. "He also said he would like to be the first member after the residential component is built out."

Union Village officials answered questions about a proposed stand-alone cancer facility, a possible children's hospital, the aging population and even how many square kilometers the development would measure out to in China.

Micheal said at minimum, this project could be replicated domestically.

"But for those who dream grand dreams, this could go internationally," Micheal said.

Micheal said the developers have contacts in India who suggested a meeting with the Indian prime minister about bringing the concept to that country.

"With (Union Village), we could change the model of health care," Micheal said. "We got to get this one going first."

The city finished prepping the site in December 2011 by applying 610,000 cubic yards of fill dirt.

"I think it could be soon when people start seeing construction equipment on the site," Micheal said. "I think it could be as early as 2013."

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.