My city has disappointed me dearly.

[inanna]

It's all about the hospital (built 1895).

We recently had made a huge - and ridiculously costly addition to the "other" (and newer) hospital in town. Twas supposed to be a good thing; was supposed to improve care and decrease waiting times. None of this has happened, and now the original hospital has been shuttered, is in a derelict state and the debate has been raging over what to do with this empty (albeit historic) building.

We have a severe methamphetmine and homeless crisis in this city. I'm with the camp who thought the old hospital could be revamped (at less of a cost than demolition) to provide short-term shelter/community living to these addicts while also offering a range of vital social services on site for the homeless.

But no! The city has made the most bizarre decision it could possibly have made: they're going to foot the bill for demolition in a deal recently made with developers out of Toronto. The developers will then purchase the site (at a rock bottom price) to build...what?! Luxury condos.

We don't need more luxury condos in this town. We need a place to house and care for those who are suffering. I guess "to hell" with the homeless and addicted in our city - whose numbers continue to rise.

[Weekend Warrior]

1. It's hard to make the economic argument you are about demolition.

Mainly because it leaves out costs that everyone is thinking about. We need to be up front that these things are good and that the cost of operation is made up for by improved lives. More people in the workforce. Fewer people in jail. Etc...

[Freddie]

2. It's a shame that old buildings get demolished

Instead of put to good use, keeping the historical and interesting architecture.
My town in PA has at least 4 big empty factory buildings, former cigar and clothing factories. Would be awesome to turn them into apartments, but they're in old parts of town and there would not be enough parking. So they sit empty.

[inanna]

3. The city has cited the problem of "asbestos" in the old hospital.

Yeah, that is a problem.

But there are professional asbestos removal companies in this town who were willing to do it for free - as a community "project" - in order to preserve the building and put it towards good use.

[crazycatlady]

4. Attend your city council meetings and hearings about this

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Don't you know developers always win? Plus they always get to

buy property at rock bottom prices and get 'incentives and tax breaks.

[BigMin28]

6. This city

Has to be Dallas. Hardly any affordable housing anymore, but plenty of high end apartments and luxury condos. Some people count, while most don't. At least to the PTB
.

[inanna]

7. No...;)

South eastern Ontario is where this has happened.

I'm in Canada.

[inanna]

8. Cost of demolition! (Example)

A similar situation has occurred in Winnipeg:

Cost to demolish old police HQ, parkade skyrockets by millions: report

WINNIPEG — It’s an old and massive building in the core of the Exchange District that has sat empty since police moved to their new headquarters on Graham Ave.

Now, a new report, which will be presented at a City Hall committee Tuesday, suggests the cost of demolishing Winnipeg’s old Public Safety Building and the parkade next door will be almost six times what had previously been suggested.

The report states it will cost $10.7 million to decommission and demolish both structures and prepare the entire site to move forward.

...

http://globalnews.ca/news/3568158/cost-to-demolish-old-police-hq-parkade-skyrockets-by-millions-report/

I predict the EXACT same scenario will happen here. The hospital in our city is about the same size as the building pictured in the above article. It is not quite as tall, but it occupies more area.