Sunbury passes first reading of new ordinance which could help former hospital property

SUNBURY — The former UPMC Sunbury Community Hospital may have new life for potential buyers or tenants after a member of the code department who works for Northeast Inspection Consultants developed an ordinance that would rezone the property for expanded uses.

Sunbury City Council passed the first reading of the ordinance Monday night. It was prepared by NEIC representative Jackie Hart.

“The Adaptive Reuse Ordinance is intended to welcome the development of vacant commercial properties located within the Residential 1 District by special exception,” Hart said.

“To qualify for this opportunity, the building must be vacant for a period of one year and is eligible regardless of a conforming or non-conforming status.”

Hart said the uses permitted under this ordinance are inclusive of all those listed within the city ordinance, with exception to those permitted in the Highway Commercial and Industrial districts.

The ordinance comes after months of preparation, Hart said.

The former hospital has been vacant for five years with little forward movement, even after the property was acquired by Montour County-based economic development organization DRIVE two years after it closed.

The former hospital was purchased by nonprofit UPMC Susquehanna from for-profit Quorum Health on Oct. 6, 2017. UPMC closed the hospital in early 2020, leaving Sunbury without a full-scale medical center for the first time in 125 years.

The property was acquired by DRIVE in mid-2022 when UPMC donated the location to the economic development group.

DRIVE — Driving Real Innovation for a Vibrant Economy — serves Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Columbia and Union counties.

According to DRIVE Executive Director Jennifer Wakeman, the organization has been marketing the property since the acquisition.

“Overall, I think the ordinance will help the city find new uses for vacant buildings,” she said. “We’ve been talking with the city for several years about finding a way to allow mixed-use development. All along, DRIVE has believed that the hospital’s highest and best use would be as a mix of residential, commercial, and professional uses.

“This ordinance will allow that type of development, making it much easier for us to market to a new user. I appreciate NEIC’s work on this ordinance, as well as City Council for seeing the value in encouraging reuse of vacant buildings in the city.”

Sunbury Mayor Josh Brosious has said he wants the city to be more involved with the former hospital after police were called to investigate recent vandalism that included smashed glass on doors and windows.

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