The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission continued its discussion on preserving the Kohr Administration Building during its Monday meeting.
The commission approved a $15,000 agreement for Applied Engineering Services to estimate the cost of maintaining utilities after the rest of the old hospital at Second and Rogers Street is demolished.
“All the utilities being disconnected creates an environment where we need to look at the climate there and what that means for the integrity of the building,” Housing and Neighborhood Development Director John Zody said.
“We have to look at what the costs are to have it sit in stasis mode for a period of time that could be 18-24 months depending on the redevelopment possibilities there,” he said.
Zody said the city excepts IU Health to cut off utilities in Feb. 2022. To keep the project on time, AES will provide its estimate within 30 days.
“Just for clarification, this $15,000 that were allocating is just for that survey and not actually any work,” redevelopment commissioner Nick Kappas said.
But maintaining utilities is only half of the initial preservation efforts after the old hospital is demolished.
Zody said the city is also receiving estimates on the stabilization of the building, as well as a partial demolition where it connects to the existing hospital.
Given city council deemed the Kohr Building a historic site in February, all plans to redevelop the exterior of the building will require action by the Bloomington Historic Preservation Committee.
READ MORE: Bloomington City Council Supports Historical Designation Of Hospital's Kohr Building
The city is looking to transition the historic building into workforce or low-income housing.
