Pending city approval, the Emporia Rescue Mission is now planning to call a new address home.
Director Lee Alderman says the Rescue Mission has reached a tentative plan to move to the former Amend Girl Scout Building, 1236 East 12th, early next year. Several private companies were interested, and the decision needed a second bid because initial bids came in at the same amount recently.
Alderman says the current facility at 1115 Merchant is not handicapped-accessible and has other structural issues.
The Girl Scout Center had been up for sale for at least a month as the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland have been working to consolidate local operations at Camp Double-E, 794 Road 200. The building and property is appraised at almost $415,000. The tentative purchase price is $400,000, and the Rescue Mission is raising about $200,000 to seal the deal through donations and possible grants.
Alderman tells KVOE News there will be some rearranging of the new space, but the Amend Center has all the space and amenities needed by the Rescue Mission.
The plan calls for 10 bedrooms with two men per room.
The move needs to go through the zoning process. Alderman says the plan needs a conditional use permit, which would need recommendation by the Metropolitan Planning Commission and final approval by the Emporia City Commission.
If this goes through, the move also lets Kwik Shop reconfigure and expand its gas station and convenience store at the corner of 12th and Merchant.
7:30 am Tuesday: Rescue Mission announces tentative plan to move to Amend Girl Scout Center
Is the Emporia Rescue Mission finally moving?
Director Lee Alderman says the Rescue Mission has reached a tentative plan to move to the former Amend Girl Scout Building, 1236 East 12th, early next year. Alderman says the current facility at 1115 Merchant is not handicapped-accessible, and mission leaders have been looking for a structurally-safe, handicapped-accessible facility for homeless men for a decade.
The move needs to go through the zoning process. Alderman says the plan needs a conditional use permit, which would need recommendation by the Metropolitan Planning Commission and final approval by the Emporia City Commission.
The Girl Scout Center had been up for sale for at least a month as the Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland have been working to consolidate local operations at Camp Double-E, 794 Road 200. The building and property is appraised at almost $415,000. Arrangement terms through the Emporia Rescue Mission plan have not been announced.
If this goes through, the move also lets Kwik Shop reconfigure and expand its gas station and convenience store at the corner of 12th and Merchant.