HUNTINGBURG — The vacancy at the former St. Joseph’s Hospital will soon end.
The building that has sat idle since shuttering its doors in 2007 has seen promise of new life lately through the Stellar Communities program. The city’s bid for the Stellar designation, awarded in August, included a proposal to renovate the former hospital to serve a growing need in the community — senior housing apartments.
Residents will soon see progress on perhaps the city’s biggest Stellar initiative.
During the Huntingburg Common Council and Huntingburg Utility Board meetings Thursday evening, Planning Director Paul Lake informed the council that construction at the hospital is set to begin — if everything continues to go to plan — some time in the middle of January.
“I wanted to let the council know that your pre-Stellar project domino involving the St. Joseph’s Hospital reuse has gone through, (Miller-Valentine Group) secured all the necessary variances to allow for the senior housing project,” Lake said. “I have a multitude of plans to get signed and recorded.”
Lake said in his email he received a draft copy of Cincinnati-based Miller-Valentine’s proposed building permit. Included in the application is a start date in mid-January with a full completion date on the $6 million project just 12 months later.
The council applauded the announcement and praised the effort, especially over the last two months, to obtain approval for the project.
“Everything is moving along,” Lake said. “I’m sure there will be hiccups here and there as we move forward, but we’re looking forward to it.”
Residents will see renovations and demolitions to existing portions of the building on the north side of the city, and the construction of new structures to create 45 units of housing for individuals 55 and older.
Mayor Denny Spinner said the council will discuss the incentive packages for Miller-Valentine to which the city has committed at the next Common Council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at City Hall, 508 E. Fourth St.
After the meeting, Spinner spoke about the relief of finally seeing progress, especially after several failed bids to renovate the hospital. The most recent plan in 2010 initially showed promise but disintegrated because of financial issues.
“We’re looking at, with Miller-Valentine, a partner that has come in and seen the potential of our community, has been willing to make a significant investment in our town. To have actual dates on the calendar, it’s kind of, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ We’re seeing it,” Spinner said. “The dates are on the calendar, the project is moving forward and if we continue on this path about a month from now we’ll see actual work in that facility. That is a day longed for by our community for several years now.”
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