Landmark since the 1940s to be demolished

By DEBBIE A. KNOX Publisher/Editor dnox@campcountynow.com

Bids are expected to be opened the end of January for the demolition of the old hospital on Quitman Street that is owned jointly by the city and the county. According to City Manager Clint Hardeman, once the building is demolished and cleaned up one legal avenue being discussed is auctioning o the property. In an interview with Mr. Hardeman, the city and county o cials have exhausted every angle of selling the building. “We’ve brainstormed and explored non-pro t businesses, clinics, rehabilitation centers, the lm industry, giving it away for free through legal channels of the Economic Development Corporation. It’s been vacant seven years and there are places in the building where you can see the sky,” Mr. Hardeman said. “A new roof would cost $60,000 alone.” We’ve had movies shot there, the Pittsburg Fire Department held a haunted house for a couple of years; we’ve utilized it with an active shooter training program and we’ve partnered with Longview SWAT doing training,” Hardeman said. Camp County Judge omas Cravey agreed. “We have looked at many ways the property would e ectively be utilized for taxpaying business(s). e city has taken the lead on the negotiations and negotiations of the bids for the demolition.

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