Travis Gulbrandson/P&D Cory Nelson, CEO at the Human Services Center in Yankton, discusses the status of the 11 vacant buildings at the center's campus during a forum at the Technical Education Center Tuesday evening. Click to view the Slideshow

It was a packed house Tuesday night at a forum concerning the 11 vacant buildings on the Human Services Center's campus.

The forum, which was held at the Technical Education Center, featured comments from a group of state and local officials on what could be done with the buildings.

"These buildings can come together with community effort," said Steve McCarthy, a developer from Rapid City. "If there's any way that you can take a building that's structurally sound and rehab it ... it'll get to serve you for another 50 to 75 years."

There are several different options for rehabilitation funds, including grants, but these take time.

The buildings are currently scheduled to be demolished in 2009. This date was changed from 2008 at the recent legislative session.

Linda Kluthe, executive director of Preserve South Dakota, the non-profit historic preservation organization that sponsored Tuesday's forum, said she was "grateful to the state" for deferring the time of demolition.

Kluthe said that if a use can be found for each building, they should each have a future in the community.

"Hopefully one by one they can all be utilized," she said.

The Yankton Historical Society wants to utilize the Mead Building as a museum and cultural center.

Crystal Mensch, who is involved with the historical society and is the director of the Dakota Territorial Museum in Yankton, said a feasibility study will be conducted on the Mead Building in the future. This will include a structural analysis, she said.

"Right now, our biggest goal is to increase the area's awareness of the building, its possibilities," she said. "And we really hope that we can see the community get behind us in this project."

The building was constructed with patient labor in 1909, and Kluthe said it was "built soundly."

However, the Mead Building and the others are not currently serving a "viable function for the campus," said HSC CEO Cory Nelson.

They are also costing money, he said.

Nelson said the HSC is currently changing its heating system, as the original buildings are still being heated with the original steam pipes.

"With this many buildings vacant, a de-centralized heating system will save approximately $300,000 just in natural gas costs," he said.

The pipes aren't the only items that need upgrading, according to McCarthy.

"The brick has got some problems and the roofs have got some problems, but I don't think they have any major problems," he said.

Nelson said the HSC needs to focus on its future, and that doesn't necessarily include the abandoned buildings.

"Our priority for the campus must remain providing the best possible care and treatment to the individuals we serve," he said.

Kluthe remains optimistic.

"We challenge the community to stay involved," she said. "We want to keep that excitement growing."