Republic file photo An exterior view of Columbus Regional Hospital’s sign directing patients to the emergency entrance.
When two pending home sales are finalized this month, Columbus Regional Health will have sold all but one of the 13 residential properties acquired for a possible eastern expansion of the hospital’s current campus.
Eight years ago, CRH was planning to expand its current campus along 17th, 18th and 19th streets, as well as along Midway Street. But after over a dozen homes in or near the Circle Terrace subdivision were purchased, the plan was tabled by 2018. Flooding concerns were cited as a significant reason.
Instead, Columbus Regional Health and the city of Columbus unveiled a concept in May to turn a nearly 700-acre site into the City View District Plan. The new proposal includes not only an additional healthcare facility west of downtown Columbus, but also housing options and various types of developments.
Involving property commonly known as Garden City Farms, the City View District was adopted by the Columbus City Council last month as an element of their Comprehensive Plan.
One home that CRH has sold is a 1,440 square foot, ranch-style brick home located at 2670 19th St. Built in 1958, the residence was purchased in 2016 for $151,800. Seven years later, it sold for $189,900, according to CRH general counselor Katie Cordell. That is a 25% rise in the purchase price over seven years.
The second residence, located at 2641 18th St, is a 1,520 square-foot ranch-style stone home built in 1957. The hospital acquired this property in 2015 for $150,700. Cordell said it’s being sold for $202,000 – a 34% jump in eight years.
Whatever money is raised through these property sales are expected to be placed back into the CRH Capital Fund, which can be used for multiple purposes ranging from property development to medical equipment upgrades, hospital officials said.
Since the hospital is county-owned, the Columbus Regional board does have extra steps to sell property. First, they have a required formal process to determine whether or not it is appropriate to sell one of their properties.
If the county commissioners agree with a board decision to sell, a legal notice must be published at least seven days before closing, Cordell said. The commissioners gave the sale of the two residences their unanimous approval.
The one remaining Columbus Regional Health property near the current hospital is being used for a traveling nurses program, Cordell said. But after the hospital’s holding company, Southeastern Indiana Medical Holdings Inc., made several investments in recent years. the counselor said CRH still has rental homes in other areas.
