IPA asks OLBH for hospital

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 29, 2005

For more than five years, the former River Valley Hospital building has been a painful reminder of the past, but economic development leaders see it as part of a bright future.

The Ironton Port Authority has officially asked Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital if the hospital would be interested in giving the property to the economic development entity so the building or the site could be recycled to again be a vital part of the community.

River Valley closed in January 2001 under a mountain of debt and amidst cries of mismanagement.

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OLBH purchased the building located at 2228 S. Ninth St. in September 2002 for $5 million. The hospital has received much criticism because the facility has remained empty.

Based on preliminary discussions, OLBH CEO Mark Gordon has been interested in the possibility of relinquishing the property, said Rob Slagel, vice chairman of the IPA. The IPA, the city's volunteer economic development group, sent an official request last week that was the next step in acquiring the property.

&#8220Based on our first meeting with Mr. Gordon, I would say he was very receptive to the idea,” Slagel said. &#8220Š Of course no promises were made, but he sounded very positive. The way the conversation unfolded, he sounded very interested in working with us.”

In the past, OLBH officials have said they did not want the facility to be used for any competitive purposes, something Slagel said has not been a consideration. The most talked about possibility has been to work with the Ironton School District to use the property as a potential site for one or more of the new schools the district hopes to build.

&#8220We are seeking it for economic development. If that economic development would be to put in a new school so then the port authority can boast to businesses about our school system, that would be great,” Slagel said. &#8220If not, we think we could find the right entity for that property. It could be a prime piece of property.”

Other options could involve converting the property into a park, a recreational facility or as housing opportunities, he said.

Finding a way to remove the building will be crucial before the port authority decides whether or not it wants to take on the property, Slagel said. The hospital could make a decision after its board meets in early December, he said.

&#8220The port authority considers the property a liability and we won't accept it until we have the funds to demolish it and the clean the site up,” he said.

Initial estimates to raze the current building have ranged from $750,000 to as much as $3 million.

The port authority plans to formally meet with an architectural engineering firm next week to determine exactly what it would cost and where some funds could come from.

Slagel said he believes that at least some of the funds could come through Clean Ohio grants.

Ironton Mayor John Elam said he is interested in seeing all the available options being investigated fully.

&#8220I'm excited about the possibilities for the building or the location to converted to the highest and best use,” Elam said. &#8220This could be another economic development tool for the port authority.”