There it sits: abandoned, overgrown, infested with black mold and asbestos. This is not the scene of a post-apocalyptic dystopia but the old St. Clair Regional Hospital in Pell City. 

The Pell City City Council discussed options for the building, which many developers have shied away from because of the added cost of demolition or cost of remediation to remove the asbestos and black mold to make the space habitable. 

“You only have to take one look (in the building) and you know that it needs to come down,” Louise Campbell, a consultant grant writer, said to City Council members Monday.

Campbell proposed a grant application, which will assist with the demolition and clearance of the old hospital facility through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant Application program. 

If awarded, the $200,000 grant would go toward the estimated $750,000 budgeted cost of demolishing the old hospital building and clearing the site. The grant would require a commitment from the City of Pell City in the amount of $400,000, which includes a $200,000 from St. Clair County. The additional funds needed of $150,000 would be sought with another proposed community development block program grant. 

“The grant process will take time,” Campbell stated, “but at least will have the approval we need to go ahead with the application.”

Another ongoing Pell City project is the remodeling of the Pell City Civic Center. Sean Whitt with Williams Blackstock Architects brought updated floor plans and optional finishes to present to the City Council. Once plans are finalized, the project would be available to bid, tentatively during the month of December, and be awarded after the first of the year. 

“We are currently tracking slight below budget,” Steve Howell with Goodgame Company, Inc. stated to the council. “We are 2-3 percent under based on the current drawing package, coming in around $1.3-$1.4 million.”

The renovations would cover the whole building, including the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Some areas would be reconfigured to create a better flow of traffic through the space, with moving the exercise room and extending the restroom facilities. 

“Opening up the space with the windows looking into the gym area really has that wow factor when you enter the front desk area,” Whitt said.  

Plans are still under consideration, with final plans slated to be approved during November.