Developer floats cancer center in suburbs

September 15, 2008

By hammersmith

[Source: Jahna Berry and Edythe Jensen, The Arizona Republic] – An influential developer wants the University of Arizona to consider putting a sought-after cancer center in a suburb, not downtown Phoenix.

Officials from UA, which would oversee the future cancer center, have downplayed the developer’s queries in Chandler and Surprise. Patients need a center in a sprawling, resort-like setting, and Phoenix doesn’t have enough room for that, said the developer, Tom Hornaday.

But Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon isn’t taking any chances and wants UA to reaffirm its commitment to build the center in his city.

Gordon has reasons to be worried: