By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A town hall meeting on the sale of the old Sitka Community Hospital buildings drew about a dozen people to Harrigan Centennial Hall Tuesday night, most of them opposed to the sale.
It was the first of two town meetings to gather public comment on the city’s proposal to sell the property. SEARHC, which has already purchased the hospital’s health care business, has asked to buy the buildings and grounds. SEARHC is presently leasing the buildings for longterm patient care and other healthcare services.
Suggestions from the public Tuesday night were for the city to keep the property for such uses as recreation, homeless services, mental health, retirement homes, inpatient drug treatment, youth programs and playground.
“Do something beautiful, and quit thinking of the money,” said Karen Lucas. “That property is very valuable.”
Sitka Planning and Community Development Director Amy Ainslie hands a microphone to Jere Christner during a public meeting at Harrigan Centennial Hall to discuss selling the former community hospital building to SEARHC. About a dozen people attended the meeting in person while several others logged onto the meeting via computer. The meeting was moderated by city administrator John Leach. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
Richard Wein, a former Assembly member, said the public needs more information before commenting, but in general he advocated for the city keeping the property, and leasing it to others for the “best and highest use,” as a health care facility.
Some in the audience spoke in favor of holding a public vote on the sale. Earlier this month the Assembly decided to issue a request for proposals on purchase of the property, and to hold public hearings instead of an advisory vote on the sale. A few said the city needed a fair price for the property.
In October SEARHC asked the city to consider selling the properties on Moller Drive, that it now rents from the city, with a goal of making additional investments in the properties. The Native-owned health consortium already owns adjoining parcels in the neighborhood.
The properties being considered for sale include land, buildings, and all other improvements at 209 Moller Drive, 202 and 204 Brady Street, and 302 Gavan Street.
In December the Assembly directed the administrator to initiate sales proceedings, and SEARHC said it preferred a competitive bid process.
City Administrator John Leach said today he has been in contact with more than one party interested in the properties. He and Assembly members said the town hall discussions were to be only about whether to sell the property, and what citizens want to do with the property, and not about any prospective buyer.
At its March 9 meeting the Assembly approved a process, as recommended by the administrator, to have public meetings instead of an advisory vote by the public. A second town meeting is scheduled March 30.
Leach has said the public will have additional opportunities to weigh in throughout the sale process, regardless of what direction the Assembly takes.
Tuesday night’s meeting drew a number of participants who had opposed the sale of the SCH business to SEARHC.
With Leach acting as facilitator, Assembly members sat with the public in the Centennial Hall auditorium.
Karen Lucas encouraged the city to “think outside the box” when it comes to possibilities for the property.
Leach and Assembly members said they had hoped for a larger turnout and a broader cross-section of the community at the town hall.
“I had hoped for more turnout,” Assembly member Kevin Mosher said today, adding that he hopes more people participate in the online survey that is now underway.
The survey, available at cityofsitka.com, asks a number of questions related to the sale or future use of the property, including uses that would be acceptable or unacceptable, and goals and priorities for development. Another question relates to the zoning, which presently is Public.
Assembly member Kevin Knox said he wasn’t particularly surprised by the sparse turnout, or the comments that were made, some of which were related to SEARHC as the prospective buyer.
But he said the low turnout was probably due to COVID concerns and believes that most of the public does not object to the RFP process set up by the Assembly to sell the buildings and lands.
“I think people are generally OK with what we’re doing and that’s why they didn’t show up,” he said.
Revenue from the sale would go into the city Permanent Fund, whose earnings generate about $1 million annually for the general fund budget, the finance department said.
SEARHC provides long-term care and rehabilitation services in the main hospital building occupying parcels at 302 Gavan Street, 202 and 204 Brady Street, and part of 209 Moller Drive. The SEARHC Mountainside Family Clinic and parking is on 209 Moller Drive.
SEARHC currently owns other properties at 802, 810 and 814 Halibut Point Road, and 200 Brady Street, all zoned Commercial 1.
The Tuesday meeting allowed for online participation through a city website link and by Zoom, but there were no comments from those taking part online. There were no official comments from SEARHC.
