At the Salina City Commission’s meeting this evening there was a public hearing on an appeal of the Heritage Commission’s approval of Certificate of Appropriateness Application that was filed by the Salina Regional Health Center, requesting approval allowing the demolition of the vacant St. John’s Hospital building at 139 N. Penn Ave.

A member of the public voiced a concern that if the Heritage Commission approves the demolition of historic buildings, why have a Heritage Commission?

Some criticism was aimed towards Salina Regional Health Center, the current owner of the property. “If Salina Regional would have taken care of that building to the same quality as when the last patient walked out we wouldn’t be in this situation where we couldn’t sell it”, Commissioner Randall Hardy stated.

St. John’s Hospital was constructed in 1914, it is one of the oldest buildings in Salina.

Ultimately, the city commissioners declined the Certificate of Appropriateness Application and rescheduled the public hearing on November 17th, 2014.