(La Porte, IN) - The old La Porte Hospital building could begin demolition soon.  Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, said much of the work preparing for the demolition has been focused inside the six story structure for the past several months.

 

Cook said the interior work is wrapping up and beginning to turn toward the exterior.

 

“Any day now we should see actual brick by brick demolition start to begin,” he said.

 

Cook said he’s not sure how long it’ll take to tear down the structure but expects work at the site to be ongoing well into the New Year.

 

The hospital, constructed about a half century ago, was replaced in October of 2020 with a new one called Northwest Health, which is just a short distance away on State Street.

 

What will become of the old hospital site is not known.  Cook said officials from the hospital and city are still in discussions about what to do with the property once cleared.  One of the ideas shared previously is using the grounds as some sort of a public gathering space for special events and other activities to further momentum downtown.

 

“It’s going to provide a new parcel that will be primed for some type of redevelopment.  The city is going to work hand in hand with the hospital to determine what that is and how we can create a space that best benefits the city of La Porte,” Cook said.