What’s next for the old building?
August 25, 2012 11:54PM
Updated: September 27, 2012 11:25AM
Porter Health Care System is responsible for razing the old hospital, a fixture at 814 LaPorte Ave., for 73 years, before the 13-acre site is transferred to Valparaiso University.
But first, sometime in the next four weeks, the hospital will hold an auction at its old home, open first to its associates and then to the public, to sell off office furniture, wall art, kitchen equipment and other goods, Jonathan Nalli, the health system’s chief executive officer, said Saturday.
Anything left over will be given to a select group of area not-for-profit agencies at no cost.
Almost 80 percent of the equipment at Porter Regional Hospital, at 85 E. U.S. 6 in Liberty Township, is new, and anything less than 2 years old in the former hospital was transferred to the new one.
The demolition does not have a date set, Nalli said. The land, along LaPorte Avenue, Lincolnway, Monroe Street and Garfield Street, will be turned over to the university shovel-ready for its plans.
Full details on VU’s plans for the land should be announced in mid-September, a university spokeswoman said Friday.
Last September, Nalli, Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and Valparaiso University President Mark Heckler announced the hospital property would be transferred to the university after it moved to its new location.
Heckler said last year that VU would use the additional acreage for athletics, sports and recreation, health and wellness.
Officials have not publicly disclosed the dollar amount of the venture or other terms of the agreement.
— Amy Lavalley
