Aberdeen council approves purchase of former Presentation College nursing building after debate over funding

The City of Aberdeen on Monday approved a purchase agreement to acquire the former Presentation College Southeast Nursing Building from the Presentation Sisters, moving toward using the 20,000-square-foot facility for education or other public uses.

The council voted to approve the purchase agreement after discussion about building condition, asbestos remediation, HVAC work and what city fund should pay for the acquisition. Mayor Travis Schoneman led the presentation of the item and called it “a very good deal on the building.”

The building, located on the southeast part of the Presentation campus and described in meeting materials as the campus’s most modern educational facility, will require new boilers and replacement flooring. “The HVAC system requirement…is part of a condition of sale,” staff member Ron said during council discussion, and the sisters agreed to address the boiler/HVAC connection issue as part of the sale. Council and staff said asbestos previously identified has been removed.

Why it matters: Council members framed the purchase as an opportunity to restore educational programming to the Presentation campus and to create long-term public benefit. Parks and recreation director Matt Braun told the council the building could serve Southeast Technical College instruction if negotiations succeed; if not, staff suggested the space could eventually…