The Frankfort City Council unanimously approved a resolution for an Economic Development Project Agreement (EDPA) for the new IU Health Hospital Monday night.
The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance vacating a portion of Oak Street and an alley for the new hospital. IU Health officials are asking for the ordinance to be passed on second and third reading at the council’s next meeting on Monday, March 11, so they can get going on the project. IU Health Frankfort Hospital President Kelly Braverman said they hope to have a ground breaking for the building some time in April.
Before the council meeting, the Frankfort Redevelopment Commission gave its approval to purchasing the properties at 52 and 54 W. Washington St. in downtown Frankfort. Those are the two properties that were destroyed by a fire on January 22.
RDC Chairman Joe Palmer said the priority for the city is to get those buildings down and the area cleaned up so that Washington Street can be reopened in that area. That street has been closed since the fire due to the danger of the structures coming down and unauthorized people going into the area to try and get a closer look at what happened.