Baptist Healthcare buys former Harley Davidson site

A troubled and legally ensnared 43-acre tract of prime commercial land in south Corbin, at one time slated to be the site of a Harley Davidson dealership, has been purchased by the owners of Baptist Regional Medical Center.

Baptist Healthcare System, Inc. purchased what was formerly known as Ridgeview Commons on Nov. 4 for $2,133,500 at a Master Commissioner sale at the Whitley County courthouse steps. Such sales are normally ordered for properties that have been foreclosed on by lenders.

Baptist Regional Medical Center President John Henson, who also serves as Vice-President of Baptist Healthcare Systems, said this week that the hospital will probably clear off 10 to 12 acres of the less commercially valuable land to expand hospital parking, then sell the rest.

"Our thought was that maybe we could purchase it at what we felt like was a good price at this point in the economy, carve off 10 or 12 acres next to us which are obviously not the best of the 43 acres … and sell the rest of it at some point in the future, and break even on the whole process."

Henson said the purchase happened almost "on a whim," but could fulfill a need for the hospital.

"I got an email a week before the sale so I sent an email off to my boss in Louisville that basically said, for what its worth, I think this might be a good purchase," Henson said. "Sure enough, it was approved. We’ve looked at expanding parking but really had no way to do it. This allows us to do that."

Already, the hospital has an active shuttle system in place to transport hospital customers from parking places far away from the facility. Henson said though the new parking would not be right next to the hospital, the shuttles would make it usable and easy for customers.

"We have a lot of people coming here this time of year, especially with the flu. We can always use more parking."
Henson said the hospital chain would likely hold on to all the property for several years in hopes that land values become more favorable for sellers. Portions of it could also be leased. He added that already he’s received interest in the property in regards to "medically related development."

Ridgeview Commons was purchased by Commonwealth Development Group in 2007 from local businessman Jim Vance for $3.25 million. CDG owners A.J. Carr and Steve Brock announced after the sales that a portion of the land would be used for the construction of a 35,000 to 50,000 square foot Harley-Davidson motorcycle retail store. It was to be the "anchor" for other development at the site, located off Cumberland Falls Hwy. near I-75. Carr and Brock called the property Ridgeview Commons.

Shortly after the deal was announced, however, Scott Maddux, the Tennessee businessman who planned the dealership, had second thoughts. He eventually backed out and constructed the dealership in London instead. A flurry of lawsuits ensued. Vance, and other lenders, eventually filed a lawsuit against CDG because its owners were unable to pay the debt on the land. Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Braden ordered that it be sold to satisfy those debts.

CDG still owes creditors for money borrowed to purchase and develop the property. The debt is the subject of continuing litigation.