PHOTO: The City of Fort Payne has started a petition drive for state assistance in demolishing the old DeKalb General Hospital. The presence of toxic mold and asbestos makes the building unusable and the cleanup costly. (Tyler Pruett | Southern Torch)
By Tyler Pruett, Managing Editor
tyler@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Scroll down to sign the petition) Fort Payne citizens may now sign a petition to ask the state for help in demolishing the old DeKalb General Hospital, located behind the Fort Payne Housing Authority; between Forest and Alabama Avenues.
The petition signatures will help the city secure funding to acquire the property and do the necessary demolition and cleanup. The facility is currently owned by a bank up North, and has been left in disrepair for years.
The building is infested with mold and mildew, as several parts of the facility have been left in standing water for a long period of time. To make any part of the building usable, the cleanup costs and work would be astronomical.
Fort Payne Mayor Larry Chesser said, "After inspections, we've assessed that the asbestos, mold, and mildew in the building is more than we anticipated. We've had to scrap the idea of trying to save any part of the building."
"It will cost way too much money to fix it up. We are planning on building a FEMA Storm shelter onsite, but we will have to build a brand new structure. We won't be able to use any of the existing structure," said Chesser.
According to the Mayor, a larger grant than previously thought will be necessary to do the work, and the Brown Fill Grant that the city originally sought, "won't touch it."
You can sign the petition below. Citizens can also sign the paper petition at Fort Payne City Schools, banks, Bruce's Foodland, Government Offices, Fort Payne City Hall, and other locations.
Your signature will be submitted to the City of Fort Payne, and will not be shared with third party sources.
Sign the Petition:
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Why don’t they do something creative with what’s there. Sell individual bricks with any one that every went through that hospital for all the years . Have names inscribed on them , dates or anything that a family might like. And then after the clearing make a be nice park and use all these bricks for a walk way , add a fountain similar to what was there at one time.
Every body in that down has some connection to that place. I would not mind having my to kids names there , they were born there, I was born there. There should be a group or committee look into beautifying that land!!!!!
Just my opinion!!!!
Should have been done years ago
That sounds like a great idea