The system has revealed a plan, very much in the preliminary stage, that would invest $500 million into additions to its main campus, with a new surgical center, emergency center and cancer institute, and construction of a south campus with a new research facility, ambulatory care facility and education building. The new additions would go in directly across from West Grand Boulevard. The hospital already has purchased about 85% of the property for this phase.

In addition, the system says it will encourage and support another $500 million in new commercial development in a 300-acre area to the south. "For each dollar of investment we make, we want to leverage additional investment for commercial health care-related products and programs, distribution through manufacturing facilities and research and development, to new retail and residential development," says William Schramm, Ford's SVP for business development.

The 300 acres is about 50% vacant, which roughly 30% owned by city, county or state entities, Schramm tells GlobeSt.com. Various government development incentives will be sought, he says, and earlier this year the state housing authority awarded Henry Ford $343,000 in federal incentives to tear down eyesore buildings in the area. Zoning and other city approvals will be needed, Schramm says.

The health system recently reported positive growth during the economic downturn in 2009, reporting an increase of $277 million for the year, to $3.97 billion, from 2008. The non-profit system also said it increased its market share by 37% in southeast Michigan in the past five years, and has doubled revenues in the past 10 years.

Schramm stressed that the plan is still in its infancy stage, with not even direction yet from the Board of Trustees. He also says that like other promised-but-failed projects downtown, "the proof with all projects is if they become what they intended. If the impact of what we're seeking takes place, it won't turn the city around…but it could become an example that supports other investment in other parts of the city, a model. In 2015, we will have been here 100 years, we as a health care organization are committed to serve the Detroit population."