The Palm Beach Town Council rejected a proposal from a pair of orthopedic surgeons to open a regenerative medicine center on the ground floor of the Palm Beach Hotel.
Citing concerns about approving first-floor medical office space in an area with a growing retail presence, council members voted 4-1 Aug. 13 to deny a variance sought by Drs. John G. Kennedy and Chris Hodgkins to open the 1,100-square-foot RegainMD musculoskeletal flagship center in one of the building's eastern-most bays.
Council member Lew Crampton cast the lone opposing vote.
"I'm not saying as a community we may or may not need it," council member Bridget Moran said of the proposed medical center, which would offer non-surgical therapies for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. "I haven't done any studies. But I'm hesitant to approve the first floor, especially street level on a street that is really experiencing some sort of a revitalization. We're going to become a bigger town, so we have to keep in mind what we want that town to look like."
Once a traditional hotel, the four-story Palm Beach Hotel at 235 Sunrise Ave. has been redeveloped into a condominium property that houses New Synagogue along with residential and retail spaces.
The landmarked property sits in the town’s C-TS zoning district, which prohibits offices from operating on the ground floor.
While voicing support for a business aimed at expanding health care options for residents, council members were reluctant to approve first-floor medical space in the pedestrian-friendly area.
Surrounding businesses include restaurants, barbershops, a bakery, a consignment store, and real estate offices.
"A medical office is fine," council member Ted Cooney said. "I think this just may be the wrong specific location in town, just from cultivating a streetscape perspective."
RegainMD was launched by Hodgkins and Kennedy, who runs the Foot and Ankle Center at NYU Langone Health in New York City.
Both have long promoted non-surgical solutions for orthopedic problems. Hodgkins told the council that RegainMD was envisioned as a hub for treatments ranging from stem cell and bone marrow injections to IV energy infusions and laser therapies.
Hodgkins said the treatments promote tissue regeneration, provide pain relief, and improve mobility, potentially delaying or preventing the need for surgery.
"We recognize the role of regenerative treatments out there for patients as an alternative to surgery," Hodgkins said. "We've listened to our patients, many of whom are actually from Palm Beach and who want other options apart from surgery. Surgery is very costly in terms of time, pain and suffering."
RegainMD was designed as a low-volume, high-quality concierge regenerative medicine service offering cutting-edge, AI-driven treatments, Hodgkins said, adding that he and Kennedy are eager to bring the center to Palm Beach.
Though their proposal won the support of Crampton and Mayor Danielle Moore, who noted that residents were "clamoring" for better health care options, the council’s decision forces Kennedy and Hodgkins to look for an alternative location.
"I think your idea is phenomenal," council member Julie Araskog told Hodgkins. "Just not there."
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach rejects proposal for new regenerative medicine center
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