HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Interfaith Housing & Community Services, Inc. is requesting a joint venture with Reno County that it hopes will provide funding to deal with environmental issues at the old St. Elizabeth Hospital property. The agency hopes to secure $5 million for the project.
Since acquiring the property in June 2016, Interfaith has experienced two non-awarded Kansas Housing Resources Corporation grants and is now resolved to secure a 2022 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant keyed on full environmental remediation of the 55,000-square-foot structure.
Interfaith says that, in its current state, the property has been reduced to land value only and does little to benefit the overall county tax base. Additionally, the deteriorating structure poses an ever-increasing risk to the neighborhood and to the overly-adventurous youth making their way into the building. If the property can be improved upon, Interfaith says it has no less than three available redevelopment options for improving the property
In the agreement, Interfaith will cover all expenses associated with the EPA application and preliminary requirements and will make reasonable efforts to maintain building and site security at all times. The agency will also complete the full 2022 EPA application and work directly with the EPA Region 7 and Kansas Department of Health and Environment throughout the process.
The matter will be taken up during Tuesday's Reno County Commission meeting.
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