State Looking To Demolish York’s Poor House

State Representative Kelly Keisling said the state wants to demolish the Poor House on York Institute’s campus.

Keisling said the State of Tennessee Real Estate Asset Management also known as STREAM wants to repurpose the property. The Poor House is the original building that York Institute functioned out of in 1925 while the construction of the original school building was still ongoing. Keisling said he believes once word of the plan to demolish the building gets around he believes the Tennessee Historical Commission and several others may be against the demolition.

“I’ve briefed you on this,” Keisling said. “Again, that old building out there may be sentimental to some. It may have a special semblance to some of you all, but to others, it may not.”

Keisling said he has been told the building is in poor condition as it is snake and rat-infested. The commission approved adding a resolution to January’s commission meeting that would support the demolition of the building.

Keisling said the demolition scheduled for 2026.

“I’m just preparing that if that should happen, then if you want the demolition to continue, then I think our emanation would be a resolution from you all in support of this handout,” Keisling said.

Keisling said STREAM has the authority to demolish the building as York Institute is a state school and not a county school.

“They’re over all the properties across the state,” Keisling said. “They’re in charge of all the real properties, buildings, things like that.”

Keisling said STREAM is still currently planning out the demolition process. Keisling said STREAM has hopefully budgeted for the demolition but regardless, the demolition of the building would have no cost to the county.