Pella — The former Pella Christian High School is scheduled to be demolished within the next month. Asbestos removal started Feb. 1 and the building will be torn down following that process. Current plans call for the completion of the project by early May.
“Unfortunately, the building is becoming a hazard and a liability concern. There have been numerous incidents of vandalism and for the sake of safety in the community we feel demolition is necessary,” said Bob Kroese, Chief Executive Officer of Pella Regional Health Center.
Since acquiring the building, Pella Regional has looked into many different possibilities for using the building. There was considerable research done on the current condition of the building and with the help of outside consultants, it was determined that renovating the building for hospital services or for community wellness services were not a practical options.
The area where the former school currently stands will be graded and seeded in order to create a pleasant setting for the neighborhood. Beyond the building, Pella Regional continues to use the parking lot for employee parking and the former concession stand for machinery storage.
