Mayor Email: Locally, there are three entities that could afford to repurpose the existing hospital: IU, IUHealth, and Cook. Externally, a hotel chain might see an opportunity. Could IU and IUHealth work out a deal to convert all or part of the structure to student housing, with more amenities than the dorms on campus? This could ensure the survival of new, student-oriented businesses occupying the many buildings that are currently home to medical services that have sprung up near the hospital. This would take some pressure off of residential neighborhoods adjacent to proposed high density student apartments, and meet the popular goal of curtailing the construction of student high rise apartments in the downtown area. It's also the best bet for preventing these ancillary businesses from becoming an urban blight zone - the local real estate market is too small to absorb this number of properties as the businesses migrate to the new hospital site. If the current structure is retained, fully or in part (partial demolition), it makes sense for VIM to occupy the space presently allocated to the ER. There is a large parking garage - would IUHealth consider donating it to the city, or swapping in a quid pro quo? Regarding a VA facility, there is a need, as many patients must now make the trek to Indianapolis for treatment. However, it would be impractical to maintain a separate full service hospital for vets, when the obvious solution is to extend VA accreditation to the existing hospital, at both the present site and the new site along the bypass. Kevin Haggerty​