CHARLESTON — MUSC Health is acquiring a large chunk of Citadel Mall to expand its health care services in West Ashley, but the move will not displace existing retailers, an official said.

The health system’s board of trustees voted Dec. 12 to buy 300,000 square feet of the shopping center, plus nearly 2,300 parking spaces, for $83.5 million. That includes 126,000 square feet that MUSC Health already leases.

The health system had nearly outgrown its footprint at the mall — the last available space opened for care this week — and had been negotiating for about a year with the property owner on an expansion when the idea of buying instead came up, said MUSC Health CEO Patrick Cawley .

“Frankly, it started to look like buying was a better deal for us,” he said.

The space for the expa

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