The owners of Central Kentucky Ambulatory Surgical Center have agreed to meet the conditions the Kentucky Heritage Council placed on renovation of the Old Gilcher Hotel and will proceed with the project, allowing Danville to move ahead with its downtown parking garage.
In a press release issued Friday through Heart of Danville, Dr. Art Rivard said partners in the surgery center have agreed to preserve the Main Street facade of the historic building, as required by the Heritage Council, and make other structural changes needed to strengthen the building to support the center.
"Our intention all along has been to save the facade and protect the integrity of the street view," Rivard said. "We are sparing no expense to fulfill our commitment to Heart of Danville and the community."
Third Street Development Corp. and Heart of Danville, which owns the easement, have signed off on the agreement as well.
"While Danville has never been a community that embraces demolition as the answer, we realize that safety and practicality must come first," said Third Street President Janet Hamner. "This has been a very complicated project from its inception, but the huge positive economic impact of the surgery center on the health of downtown makes our efforts worthwhile."
