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10 show interest in RTC
Published 10:52am Tuesday, December 4, 2012It has been 90 days since Colliers International began marketing the Regional Treatment Center, and in that time, the marketing firm has found 10 interested prospects, two of which have submitted letters of interest.
With all of the interest the RTC has seen through Colliers, members of the Fergus Falls City Council appear to be willing to wait and let prospect interest develop before taking any other action.
“I think there’s some very encouraging prospects right now, but in all honesty, I think they are in the early stages,” said Colliers senior associate Dan Peterson at the City Council meeting Monday.
One of the prospects submitting letters of interest, as expected, was the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, which manages a West Virginia Kirkbride facility as a tourist attraction. The other is from Terrence Scholz, who indicated in his letter that he wants to convert the Kirkbride to a mixed use facility, listing a spa, hotel and market rate housing among the uses.
Time will be an issue, as the city’s six-month contract with Colliers is 90 days in and the December 2013 demolition date is drawing closer. Interest was expressed in extending the contract with Colliers and pushing back the December 2013 date by at least a year at the meeting.
“I think there was enough said last night that Colliers will keep working on it, and I think it’s going to be up to the next council to make some crucial decisions on whether or not they want to move forward,” said council member JoEllen Thacker.
Both Rep. Bud Nornes and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen have said they would be willing to ask the Legislature for an extension if the council requests one.
