Bay Ridge’s mortality rate will likely hold steady this year at 109, as another budding super-centenarian is slated for the ‘big sleep’ by mid-summer – Victory Memorial Hospital.

Victory joins the ranks of other hard fought 109 year old causes, such as Bay Ridge’s United Methodist Church slated for demo this summer, as Victory’s facilities go up for auction with a potential purchase price of 40 million dollars, according to the Brooklyn Eagle.

Holy Family Home, a longterm care nursing facility on 84th street and 14th avenue is currently the stalking-horse bidder at 40million, according to Michael Fagan, vice president of public affairs for St. Vincent Medical Center, who operates Holy Family Home.

The state Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, chaired by attorney Stephen Berger, issued a report in November of 2006 recommending that Victory be shut down in “an orderly fashion.”

The hospital’s emergency room will remain open after the hospital’s June 30th closing date due to protests by health care advocates, and a lawsuit filed by local politicians against the state DOH through Article 78.

Local politicians are studying ambulence diversion rates to bolster a case they plan to bring before the state DOH proposing a merger between hospitals.

[photo courtesy gerritsenbeach.net]