COLUMBUS, Ind. — Cummins has applied for a demolition permit to tear down its former medical facility commonly referred to as COHA at 605 Cottage Ave., after more than five years of attempting to find a new owner.
Company officials released a statement Friday in response to questions about the planned demolition, saying the building served Cummins and the Columbus community well, but it is no longer sustainable or commercially viable.
“Cummins met with many stakeholders over the past few years to determine what is best for this piece of property and the community going forward, including members of the city, regional developers, community leaders and art and architectural stakeholders. Cummins plans to retain the property and will evaluate future use in the best interests of Cummins and the community,” according to the statement.
The 21,000-squaqre-foot, three-level glass enshrouded building, constructed in 1973, was originally known as the Columbus Occupational Health Association, later becoming the Cummins Inc. Health Center. The building’s design architects were Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates of New York City, a group of architects who are no longer working together.
The site also features a landscape design by Dan Kiley.
The application for the demolition permit was submitted Aug. 24, but had not yet been paid for or picked up as of Friday morning, county officials said.
Dan Cristiani Excavating Co. Inc. of Clarksville is listed as the contractor on the permit application, and Star Environmental out of Indianapolis is listed as the abatement contractor.
The permit lists a demolition start date of this coming Wednesday and a completion date of Nov. 9.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
