Sutter Health Abandons $1B Emeryville Hospital Plan, Citing Regulatory Uncertainty
Sutter Health has scrapped its $1 billion plan to build a new hospital in Emeryville, citing regulatory hurdles under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The company will proceed with outpatient services only at the site while searching for a new location for a full-service hospital to replace the closing Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley. This decision has sparked sharp criticism from state Senator Jesse Arreguín, who fears reduced emergency care access, while Emeryville Mayor Sukhdeep Kaur welcomed the move, citing local opposition to the project's scale.