FORT PIERCE — In the midst of an expansion, HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital is one step closer to providing increased parking to meet its increase in beds and services.
A major site plan to build a five-floor, 591-car parking garage on about 3½ acres at the southwest corner of the hospital complex was unanimously approved by the Fort Pierce City Commission Feb. 17. A surface lot with 109 parking spaces, eight dedicated electric vehicle charging stations and five ADA-compliant parking spaces, also are part of the plan.
The total parking project is expected to cost about $25.9 million, according to a presentation by Vanessa Mahoney of land planning firm Kimley-Horn, who was representing the hospital.
The area where the more than 700 new parking spaces will eventually go is currently home to about 300 surface parking spots, hospital representatives said.
Artist’s renderings show plans for a 591-car parking garage at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, which is planned to open in early 2027.
The parking project is the fifth and final phase of a master plan to expand and renovate the complex, according to a presentation by city staff. Phase 1 is construction of a three-story medical tower. Phase 2 is further buildout of that tower and an emergency department addition to the northern portion of the hospital. Phase 3 is a fourth-floor addition to the medical tower. Phase 4 is a fifth-floor addition to the medical tower.
All of the projects are expected to be complete by early 2027, HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital spokesperson Alex Hagan said. Renovations to the labor-and-delivery areas of the hospital were completed in December of 2025, Hagan added.
Parking was already challenging before the expansion projects, and the garage was always part of the plan to address that demand, including the growth from those projects, hospital Chief Operating Officer Alex Masmela told the City Commission.
“The city of Fort Pierce and Treasure Coast in general has grown significantly in population. Our hospital is trying to keep up with that demand. We opened up 62 beds last year, and here we are holding today in the emergency room. We have another 32 beds coming online by next year because we are going to top off that fifth-floor tower. With that, we have parking struggles,” Masmela said. “The issue exists already. The company has supported us in the sense that before expanding anymore, the parking garage was a critical component to be able to continue growing.”
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The hospital will require temporary offsite parking while garage is under construction, Masmela said. Plans are to use an 8-acre parcel south of the hospital.
Once the parking garage is finished, that lot will primarily be used by hospital employees, Masmela said, leaving closer surface parking for patients and visitors.
HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital is the largest hospital on the Treasure Coast by beds and the only Level 2 trauma center in the region.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at Wicker.Perlis@TCPalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital parking garage approved in Fort Pierce
