NEWS 25 WEHT Evansville, Henderson, OwensboroSt. Mary's Sells Walker Building to Kunkel Group, Inc.

St. Mary's Sells Walker Building to Kunkel Group, Inc.

posted by Ian Connor

EVANSVILLE - NEWS 25 learns the former Welborn Baptist Hospital in downtown Evansville has been sold.

Officials told us the Walker Building was sold to the Evansville-based Kunkel Group, Inc.

St. Mary's put the seven-story building up for auction in September. Hospital officials said eight potential buyers toured the nearly eight acre site in downtown Evansville, but only two companies presented bids. They said the Kunkel Group presented the only bid that conformed to St. Mary's wishes.

Tim Flesch, President and CEO of St. Mary's Health System, said the Kunkel Group's winning bid was only $10, but the company did agree to take on the building's $600,000 annual operating costs.

The Kunkel Group said they plan on using the property for a variety of things including apartments, commercial office space and retail.

The Walker Building is located at 401 SE Sixth Street and is only two blocks from the site of the new downtown arena.

Hospital officials donated all of the medical equipment inside the property to the Rotary Club of Evansville, which will then be delivered to a clinic in the Yucatan.