Kodiak holds off on selling historic Griffin Memorial Hospital as museums seek a lease

Two Kodiak institutions have their eye on the city's 1938 Griffin Memorial Hospital building, and for now the city isn't selling.

At a Sept. 8 work session, the Kodiak City Council reached consensus not to sell the building at this time, setting aside a bid from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church to buy it. Gail Armstrong, representing the church, said it "stands ready" if the city changes its mind. The Kodiak History Museum and the Kodiak Maritime Museum plan to apply jointly to lease the building instead, and the council will take up that request later.

The 7,200-square-foot building on Mission Road is assessed at about $1.4 million this year.

The Kodiak Historic Preservation Commission meets Thursday, Oct. 1, to consider recommending a design intent for it, a statement of how the old hospital should be used and preserved. Commissioners will review drafts from architect Laura Read and Commissioner Grant Crosby and may weigh in on whether the museums' plan fits, while the building's nomination to the National Register of Historic Places is pending.

The commission also plans to finalize up to 20 properties for the city's historic inventory, plan interpretive signs for the Agricultural Experiment Station Barn, the American Cemetery and Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and decide how to use a $10,025 training grant.

The meeting starts at 2 pm at Fisherman's Hall, and members of the public can speak for up to three minutes.