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Residents press council for clarity on future of old Wyoming State Hospital; council says state controls property
Summary
Residents asked the Evanston City Council for more transparency and action on the fate of the former Wyoming State Hospital campus, but staff said the property remains under state control and the city cannot unilaterally issue a request for proposals for state-owned land.
Several residents used public comment at the Feb. 4 Evanston City Council meeting to press the council for information and action regarding the former Wyoming State Hospital campus, expressing concern about demolition plans and asking whether the city could issue its own request for proposals to guide reuse.
Kathy Cook asked, “I would like to know when the request for proposal will be sent out for bids for the old Wyoming State Hospital.” Council and staff members responded that the property is state-owned and that the city does not issue an RFP for state property; staff said the city has been involved in discussions but the state and its land-management authorities control disposition decisions. The clerk and staff said they would provide Cook with documents including a veto and related materials that address the state’s process and timeline.
Several residents urged the city to press harder for a community-oriented reuse. One commenter said the city should ensure the site is used for veterans’ housing and low-income housing; another said Senator Schueller had reported a group exploring a trade-school campus that could restore historic buildings while providing workforce training. Resident Jared Houghton said he supports private redevelopment but opposed the use of city or county public money for building rehabs.
Council members and staff reiterated that the property is under state jurisdiction; staff noted an earlier call for proposals from the Alliance for Historic Wyoming that was issued in 2004 and said they would send that information to the requesters. The council did not vote or take formal action on the hospital site during the meeting, but directed staff to share available state documents and to continue participating in discussions where the city has a seat at the table.
Public concern centered on demolition timing, state plans for the 112-acre campus, property value impacts on nearby owners, and citizens’ desire for transparency and community-benefit reuse options.
