After three years of being empty, a new business is planning to move into the former Greenwood city hall.
Early next year, Cornerstone Autism Center plans to open its second Greenwood location in the building that used to house city offices at 2 N. Madison Ave., according to a news release from the city. The building has been empty since 2013, when city offices moved down the street to the new Greenwood city center at 300 S. Madison Ave.
The announcement comes shortly after the sale of the former city hall to Greenwood-based real estate agency Randy Faulkner and Associates was finalized. The company had agreed to buy the property for $74,000 earlier this year, and invest at least $700,000 in renovations.
The same company bought and rehabbed the former Polk Canning Co. building at Polk and Main Streets, which has been home to Cornerstone Autism Center since 2010.
Cornerstone, which focuses on therapy services for children and young adults with autism, including Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA, will be the largest tenant in the former city hall building, using about 16,800 square feet on the top two floors. The building has a total of about 24,000 square feet of space.
Cornerstone is expected to bring about 30 new jobs with its new location, the city’s news release said.
“We knew with the right structure, the former city building could serve as a catalyst for furthering the growth and resurgence of downtown Greenwood,” Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers said in the news release. “This couldn’t be a better fit. Cornerstone has quickly become a Greenwood fixture during its time here, and we look forward to the organization’s continued growth and success.”
Since moving into the former cannery about six years ago, Cornerstone has expanded twice and opened locations in West Lafayette and Columbus, the release said.
Their current location will continue to be the company’s headquarters and will be geared toward younger children. The new location in the former city hall will be geared toward older children and young adults with autism who are working toward independence and the transition into adulthood.
“With an additional location, we are able to expand and specialize our services. We’ve seen a consistent and significant demand for these services in the Greenwood community,” Cornerstone founder Debbie Ide said in the release.
Faulkner is planning to invest about $700,000 into the property over the next 18 months, the release said. Under the terms of the sale, Faulkner is not allowed to ask the city for a tax break or for an exemption as a nonprofit for 10 years.
The city also will continue to own the parking lot south of the building, which will be open to the public on evenings and weekends, the release said.
