Huntingburg hospital construction proposed to begin in January

Here is an artistic rendering of what the new development at the former-St. Joseph Hospital will look like. Pete Schwiegeraht, a developer with Cincinatti-based Miller-Valentine Group, presented the Huntingburg Council with this drawing tonight when he explained the plans for the beleaguered building. The new development will house 48 one- and two-bedroom condos for individuals 55 and older. To assist in the firm's tax credit application, the city confirmed it would contribute $300,000 in economic incentives to the project. The $300,000 could be funded through the creation of a Tax Incremental Financing District, with the city's Tax Abatement program or through other means. Story Friday morning. — Here is an artistic rendering of what the new development at the former-St. Joseph Hospital will look like. Pete Schwiegeraht, a developer with Cincinatti-based Miller-Valentine Group, presented the Huntingburg Council with this drawing when he explained the plans for the beleaguered building. The new development will house one- and two-bedroom condos for individuals 55 and older.

Huntingburg residents likely won’t be waiting for the other foot to drop in regards to a proposed senior housing development in part of the St. Joseph’s Hospital.

The green and red building has been vacant since 2007 when St. Joseph’s Hospital closed its doors.

After years of rumors and legless proposals, in 2013, Miller Valentine Group announced intentions to purchase about 30,000 square feet of the building from Huntingburg Partners, LLC.. The company stated they planned on creating 45 to 50 senior living units on the property.

Thursday, Huntingburg City Planning Director Paul Lake revealed that Miller-Valentine had submitted a preliminary construction permit request and all of the requested variance for the construction had been completed.

According to Lake, at this time, Miller Valentine plans on beginning construction of the new facility in mid-January. The construction is expected to take about 12 months and cost about $6 million, according to the permit.

The Cincinnati-based developer stated in 2013 that the purchase and development of 45 to 50 senior living units was dependent on tax credits offered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). The company received approval for those tax credits and Huntingburg has offered about $350,000 in additional incentives to the company to close the deal.

The City of Huntingburg listed the project as one of its Stellar Initiatives before Miller Valentine learned it had received the tax credits from the IHCDA. It is the largest Stellar project listed in the city’s plans. With the proposed Huntingburg Heritage Trail being the rope that ties the city together the hospital project has become an anchor on the city’s continued development on the north side.

It accents the development of the Huntingburg Event Center, now a popular center for hosting events year-round, and the development of new housing along the proposed route of the Huntingburg overpass on the northwest side of town.

“This gives the project real credibility,” Mayor Denny Spinner said. “To have Miller Valentine want to come into our community and make this type of investment says a lot about our city. It brings the building back to life but also meets the needs of our community.”

Housing has been identified as a need in Dubois County. “It is providing housing in Dubois County,” Spinner said. “As our population ages, it gives them an opportunity to stay here and have a great quality of life.”

A banner depicts what project the former hospital is connected to in the Stellar grant application.

With the most recent development, the 7-year-old black eye on the city will finally begin to heal. Mayor Spinner wouldn’t comment about any other developments for the rest of the hospital property but indicated the city was working towards some solutions there as well. “I can’t really speak about that, yet,” Spinner said. “I would love to say something. As soon as I can, it will be done appropriately.”

The council will discuss the incentive packages the city has committed for Miller-Valentine at the next Common Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 508 E. Fourth Street.

Here is our coverage of this development.

Major developments with Huntingburg St. Joseph Hospital property

Huntingburg commits $350,000 to hospital housing development

Huntingburg Senior Housing project catalyst for city’s future plans