WORTHINGTON - The view along 10th Street in downtown Worthington will look a little different by the end of summer as Sanford Worthington Medical Center moves forward with plans to demolish the former Avera Worthington Specialty Clinic buildings.
Sanford purchased the buildings about a year ago with the intent the buildings would come down, said Sanford Worthington CEO Mike Hammer.
“The building was not usable at all,” he said.
Terry Bramel, environmental services manager for Sanford Worthington, said the condition of the buildings was poor.
“A whole bunch of the midsection has a leaky roof,” he explained. “There’s water damage and cockroaches.”
The original section of the former Avera clinic was constructed in 1931, with additions completed in 1938, 1964, 1970 and 1980.
An assessment of asbestos in the building is currently under way, Bramel said.
Once that is completed, the property will be abated - a process hoped to begin later this month.
“It will take us about a month to take (the buildings) down,” Bramel said. “They planned on the demolition taking about three weeks and about one week to refill the opening.”
Plans are to establish green space initially.
“There’s some facility expansion needs here, but we haven’t defined them yet. We have ideas,” said Hammer. “That space will be part of growth, but we don’t know what that particular plot will be.”
The demolition of the former Worthington Specialty Clinic will be done in conjunction with the demolition of the old Red’s gas station, located across from the hospital at the intersection of 10th Street and Seventh Avenue. Hammer said that lot will probably be used for parking, as there are no plans to construct anything on that parcel.
