Fire Rescue News - After damage by fire, Northfield medical offices rebuild and reopen
NORTHFIELD — If you look at the Mainland Medical Center at the corner of New and Zion roads, the three office buildings look brand new. All signs of the huge blaze that severely damaged the 1973-era complex last year are gone.
The west wing of the medical facility burned down Dec. 21 in an accidental electrical fire; the south wing suffered....Continue Reading
fire, smoke and water damage, and the east wing suffered smoke damage.
Dr. George Groch, the property owner, has spent the last several months fixing up the complex and the insurance company has provided about $2 million to rebuild it. Part of the complex re-opened in March and four out of five tenants returned.
Groch compared the remodeling process to “a rising phoenix.”
“From ashes comes a new building, basically,” he said.
The last of the repairs were completed in late October and the entire Mainland Medical Center is back in business. Groch is looking for new tenants who would want to rent out about 12,500 square feet available for medical and general offices. He said the office space is open to modifications to fit the tenants’ needs.
“As you can see, we put a lot of effort into the work,” Groch said during a recent tour, while he pointed to the California-style complex, complete with an outdoor courtyard and terraces. He thanked the Northfield Fire Department for its fast response.
Thomas Lacovara, a licensed public adjuster who represented Groch, said the post-fire west wing looked like Germany after World War II, underscoring the effectiveness of the renovations.
All of the buildings received new carpets, lighting and flooring. The west wing was completely redone. There’s even a new outdoor garden in the center featuring white stones, cedar trees, a waterfall and hanging flower baskets.
The architectural work was done by Gary Mednick, of Northfield. Attorney Steve Brog, of Linwood, handled the legal issues that came up for building tenants during the transition, Groch said. Thomas Andrews, of Northfield, was the main contractor and Brian Meyers, of Linwood, was the construction representative. The gardening work was done by Phillips Landscaping of Somers Point.
Dr. Joseph Salvia, a pediatrician from Seaville, has been a tenant at Mainland Medical Center for five years. Salvia said his office had little damage from the fire and the private practice was relocated to Egg Harbor Township for four months. When he returned to Northfield last March, Salvia said he was impressed with the modifications that were made to the medical complex.
“Almost everything was refinished, replaced — new carpets, tiles … on the inside, it’s almost a new office,” Salvia said.
Lacovara, the insurance adjuster, said he, too, was impressed with the final product.
“I think it’s going to be a classic office space,” Lacovara said. “It’s beautiful. The doctor went with all good quality materials and he will build to suit.”
Contact Michelle Lee: 609-272-7256 MLee@pressofac.com
Dr. George Groch, of Northfield, stands in the courtyard of the Mainland Medical Center at New and Zion roads in Northfield. The center was rebuilt after a December 2009 fire.
Photo by: Danny Drake
Some of the offices are already being rented again, Groch says.
Dr. George Groch, of Northfield, the owner of the land and offices, arrives at the complex and talks about rebuilding after the fire. Mainland Medical Center at New and Zion roads in Northfield is in the rebuilding stage after a huge fire burned much of the complex down last December. Some of the offices are being rented again, Dr. Groch said he is also still looking for new tenants. Monday, October,18, 2010 ( Press of Atlantic City / Danny Drake)
