Use hospital complex

The Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) seeks funds—estimated at $20 million—to create a performing arts center. Director Corey Alderdice said it would be a “crown jewel” for downtown.

Hot Springs has had a “crown jewel” for 90 years: the beautiful building on the hill, namely, the iconic Army Navy Hospital (ANH). The ANH complex has the capacity to meet all the needs of ASMSA for excellence in the performing arts. The main structure has 210,000 square feet and the complex includes smaller buildings on 21 acres.

Throughout its history, the ANH operated as a small city with housing, kitchen, cafeteria, library, auditoriums, a radio station, and many other functions. The ANH complex treated thousands of troops, sailors, and airmen until 1960, when the Department of Defense (DoD) transferred it to the state of Arkansas. The state used the facility for training generations of Arkansans for various occupations until 2019.

In 2020, Gov. Asa Hutchinson returned the complex to DoD due to rising upkeep costs. The return is moving slowly. Eventually, the General Services Administration will dispose of the complex. (Hopefully, redevelopment will not take over 40 years, as the old Little Rock VA Hospital did!)

Investing public and private funds would go further by renovating the ANH complex to provide educational opportunities for students focused on the performing arts as well as other pressing needs. For example, the nation needs training for thousands of technicians to build, hook up, and work on new technologies related to alternative energy and transportation. The ANH could provide this training. I implore this governor and Legislature to retract the return of the ANH and re-initiate the lease to serve our educational needs. Reusing the ANH would yield a significant return on investment for Arkansans today and for the future.

JEFFREY SHORT Malvern