The dead trees and falling limbs in the front of the old Aiken County Hospital set the tone for what lies beyond.
Standing in the shade of the magnolia trees in the parking lot of the old AIken County Hospital, it is easy to see why this old building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Less easy to see is why this venerable old structure is being neglected to ruin.
6 thoughts on “The Old Aiken County Hospital: Demolition by Neglect?”
Give the property away for a nominal price to a developer that will restore it to county satisfaction. Otherwise taxpayers are going to have to demolish it at taxpayers expense !!!!
It seems the owner of the building, Aiken County Government, is following the lead of City of Aiken Government, i.e., fumble, mumble and stumble around while the assets bought and paid for with citizens’ tax money crumble.
I would like to see this property used for the Lab! It is an ugly building with horrible steep steps in the front so I would support demolishing the building and if they want to salvage whatever can be reused, even better but the building is an eyesore and has been left to such horrible deterioration that it probably isn’t worth restoring. I know I am on the opposite side of many opinions but I see this property far different than the Hotel Aiken which needs to be restored now before it gets to the stage of the old hospital building. Let’s get moving on fixing all these eyesores and make them safe and buildings we can be proud of!
It is frustrating and heartbreaking that the historic Old Aiken Hospital has deteriorated to this point. A dedicated coalition of hospital supporters has worked for nearly 10 years to: 1) expand the historic district; 2) get the hospital listed on various registers; 3) attract preservation redevelopers as buyers; and 4) market the importance of historic preservation tax credits.
The building (at least the front section) is too important to let it fall to demolition. And the location is too critical to the future of downtown and west-side development to let just anything go on this site.
I will also add here that the City of Aiken, whose representatives now regularly gush with enthusiasm about this, that, and the other “gateway” project, never heard that word until the West Richland Improvement Team started a petition to save the old hospital (among other concerns).
To save this historic building and make the site an important connection between downtown and points west will require better and more diligent liaison between City, County, Historic Aiken, and interested investors.
This is a great property and can be wonderfully restored/re-purposed. I wish the parties involved would get their “act” together so things could move forward.
Give the property away for a nominal price to a developer that will restore it to county satisfaction. Otherwise taxpayers are going to have to demolish it at taxpayers expense !!!!
It seems the owner of the building, Aiken County Government, is following the lead of City of Aiken Government, i.e., fumble, mumble and stumble around while the assets bought and paid for with citizens’ tax money crumble.
I would like to see this property used for the Lab! It is an ugly building with horrible steep steps in the front so I would support demolishing the building and if they want to salvage whatever can be reused, even better but the building is an eyesore and has been left to such horrible deterioration that it probably isn’t worth restoring. I know I am on the opposite side of many opinions but I see this property far different than the Hotel Aiken which needs to be restored now before it gets to the stage of the old hospital building. Let’s get moving on fixing all these eyesores and make them safe and buildings we can be proud of!
It is frustrating and heartbreaking that the historic Old Aiken Hospital has deteriorated to this point. A dedicated coalition of hospital supporters has worked for nearly 10 years to: 1) expand the historic district; 2) get the hospital listed on various registers; 3) attract preservation redevelopers as buyers; and 4) market the importance of historic preservation tax credits.
The building (at least the front section) is too important to let it fall to demolition. And the location is too critical to the future of downtown and west-side development to let just anything go on this site.
I will also add here that the City of Aiken, whose representatives now regularly gush with enthusiasm about this, that, and the other “gateway” project, never heard that word until the West Richland Improvement Team started a petition to save the old hospital (among other concerns).
To save this historic building and make the site an important connection between downtown and points west will require better and more diligent liaison between City, County, Historic Aiken, and interested investors.
Tear it down or sell it. It will be an eyesore within a few years. Absolutely no historic value at all
This is a great property and can be wonderfully restored/re-purposed. I wish the parties involved would get their “act” together so things could move forward.