Development Plans for the Abandoned Veterans Hospital Still on Hold

It’s been about 18 months since the Veterans Affairs Hospital closed its doors in Brecskville.

Right now, city officials are just waiting for an update from the federal government so that the 100-acre property can be developed.

The closure of the Brecksville campus of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center has already taken its toll on the city, to the tune of $1.5 million of lost income taxes each year. 

“We’re waiting for the federal government to tell us what’s going to happen with the deal they had between Veterans Development and the Veterans Administration,” said Brecksville Mayor Jerry Hruby.

The Veterans Development organization was headed by Michael Forlani, who was recently sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the Cuyahoga County corruption scandal.

“Until we hear the results of that, we’re not sure where that’s going,” Hruby added. “That’s 100 acres of land that used to generate $1.5 million in revenue. Now, it generates nothing, other than the additional attention of our police.”

The federal government is said to be sorting through the agreement, so that the land can be developed. But the issue hasn’t been settled yet.

“It’s really on hold at this point,” Hruby said. “We can’t control the destiny.”

The center closed down in September 2011, after 50 years in Brecksville. The majority of the services moved to the renovated Wade Park facilities in Cleveland, and other services, like outpatient care, moved to the new facility in Parma.