COUNCIL VOTES TO CONDEMN OLD ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to begin condemnation proceedings on old St. Francis Hospital.

Mayor Al Spradling III said that doesn't mean the empty building at Good Hope and Pacific will be razed any time soon. Spradling said it could take from six months to a year or longer to go through the condemnation process.

In the meantime, council members also agreed with Councilman Melvin Gateley's suggestion to contact Trent Condellone, the Springfield, Mo., businessman who bought the building in March, so that Condellone can outline his plans for redeveloping the structure.

Spradling called Condellone's plans "indefinite." He said the time lag in the condemnation process should give him time to "formulate something more concrete."

Gateley also suggested that the Department of Housing and Urban Development be contacted to find out what funds, if any, might be available for redeveloping the building and what suggestions they might have for using the structure.

The city has budgeted $500,000 in use-tax revenue to pay for demolition of the old hospital and the old Marquette Hotel. That is not enough to cover demolition of both buildings, but the old hospital likely would be torn down first if current redevelopment efforts fall through.

Some doubts have been expressed regarding Condellone's plans for the old hospital. In a letter sent last week to the Haarig Area Development Corp., Condellone said news the city was considering tearing down the building had "scared off our potential investors." He also said he was "going forward without plans" on intentions to redevelop the building.

Gateley stressed that he would like to see the building renovated rather than torn down. He also suggested getting input from the community on possible uses for the building.

Council members said it is time the city took some action on the property.

"I think we need to start the process" of condemnation, Spradling said. "We can always put it on hold" if a feasible development proposal is made, he said. "The longer we put off that starting point, the longer the building's going to sit there in that condition."

When Condellone's 801 Good Hope Inc. group bought the old hospital, Condellone said he hoped to turn the building into a one-stop center for government services.

The first step in the process is having the old hospital declared a dangerous structure, which could take months, said Spradling.

If the owner doesn't have the property torn down, the city will have it done, and the cost will be tax-billed for the cost of demolition.

If the owner doesn't pay off the cost of the tax bill, the city could foreclose on the property and acquire it or sell it to recoup some of the demolition costs.

The owner also has the right to appeal the process, which could add to the time frame, Spradling said.

The old St. Francis Hospital was built in 1914. It remained in use until 1976, when the new St. Francis Medical Center opened on William Street. The old building was then sold to Southeast Missouri State University and operated as student housing until 1985. It has changed hands several times since then.