Although the Laughlin Square commercial property has been donated to the foundation of nearby Walters State Community College, little is expected to change at Laughlin Square for at least six months, and possibly as long as three years.

As reported previously, the property, which was recently valued at $1.1 million, was donated to the Walters State Community College Foundation on Dec. 16 by Laughlin Memorial Hospital's board of directors.

What is now the campus of' Walters State's Greeneville-Greene County Center for Higher Education was built as a hospital and used by Laughlin until 1995, when the hospital opened its new facility at 1420 Tusculum Blvd.

WSCC acquired the former hospital through a three-way partnership of the Town of Greeneville, Greene County, and the Walters State Foundation.

The foundation, which has its own board of trustees, leased the facility to Walters State until 2006, when the State of Tennessee purchased it from the foundation for $1 million.

The adjacent Laughlin Square commercial property includes a 32,000-square-foot, two-level commercial building, built in the 1960s, plus a large parking lot facing College Street, and a smaller parking lot facing North Main Street.

Students at the community college have used the larger parking lot for some time.

WSCC President Dr. Wade McCamey said in an interview that "I, along with other representatives from the college, began meeting or speaking with the tenants of Laughlin Square the day after Laughlin's gift to the college's foundation was formally announced.

"We wanted to reassure them that we have just begun assessing how to utilize this new resource and that we would give tenants at least six months' notice or longer when a decision to move some of our operations to the property is made."

McCamey added, "Since our Greeneville-Greene County Center is experiencing significant enrollment growth, at some point in the future we plan to expand our programs and services to the Laughlin Square property.

"However, we are very sensitive to how this might affect the business operations of the current tenants, especially given the current economic climate, and we will work closely with all of them to minimize any disruption during such a transition."

Most of the building is occupied by tenants, the largest of which is Ross Furniture and Bedding, on the lower level, facing College Street. It is owned and operated by Gary and Kathy Ross.

Gary Ross told The Greeneville Sun that, in meetings with college officials before Christmas, he was assured that he will most likely be able to continue to operate as he has in Laughlin Square for one to three years, with "no pressure" from the college to relocate for the time being.

Ross said he was told that the college wants the current tenants to remain "one to three years, and possibly longer," because of the revenue that they will generate for the college.

Dr. McCamey confirmed Ross's comments in a telephone interview.

He said the timeline will be six months to three years, though he said three years will most likely be "on the far edge" of the timeline.

McCamey said much will depend on the availability of funding for conversion of Laughlin Square for the college's use, and the funding will in turn depend on the national economy and the Tennessee economy.

McCamey said he and Dr. Drucilla Miller, dean of WSCC's Greeneville branch, were able to meet with all of the tenants, along with Henry Drinnon, the college's vice president of development.

"At this point, we feel good about the brief meetings we had with all the tenants," Dr. McCamey said. The college president said he learned more than he had known about the building, and Ross was able to show college officials a space they had not been aware of until then.

He also agreed that the college will benefit from the revenue that the building produces in the meantime.

Ross said the college asked him to give six months' notice if he plans to relocate. In return, Ross was offered six months notice by the college, should the college begin to move toward occupancy. McCamey also confirmed that agreement.

Ross also said he was told not to be alarmed when the college begins to demolish the oldest part of the former hospital building, the former Laughlin Clinic, which fronts on North Main Street.

College officials have said that the demolition has long been planned, and will happen "no later than spring," but is unrelated to the gift of Laughlin Square.

Ross said college officials said they could be able to move ahead on occupying Laughlin Square as early as fall of this year, "but they also said they don't think that's likely."

Ross said he purchased land along the U.S. 11E Bypass almost four years ago because of rumors then current about Laughlin Square's being sold.

He said that, after buying the property, he determined that it would not make financial sense for him to build at this time, so the 11E Bypass property is for sale.

Ross Furniture was started by his father, Wade Ross, and is now starting its 48th year.

"I want to run at least 50 years, if I can," said Ross, who is 61. "If my health will let me, I want to work at least five more years," because by that time, his wife will be able to retire as well.

If not, Ross said, "My wife and I have always said, 'If the Good Lord closes a door, He'll open a window,' and we believe that."

Steve Neas, who operates a State Farm insurance agency on the upper level, said WSCC officials told him there was "no immediate need to make plans unless I just wanted to."

Neas said that, although his office is small, moving any business is "traumatic," and he appreciated the college's willingness to work with the tenants.

He said WSCC officials have been "really nice," and so far, "it's not a really bad situation for any of us" tenants.

Laughlin Home Health Agency, a division of Laughlin Memorial Hospital, Inc., has its headquarters at Laughlin Square.

Noah Roark, director of human resources and the hospital's spokesman, said the hospital is "currently pursuing plans relevant to relocating Laughlin Home Health Agency." However, he added, "We don't know how long in the future that might be."

Rachel Crabtree, manager of the H&R Block tax preparation office on the lower level, said WSCC officials assured her that the office would not need to move until this year's tax season ends, "and maybe even next year's tax season," which would not end until April 15, 2010.

Despite that, Crabtree said she will begin exploring options this spring.

Summit Family Practice and an associated business, Occupational Health Services, have been in Laughlin Square for 25 years, said Robert Diez d'aux, who opened the office in September 1983.

Diez d'aux said in a telephone interview this week that WSCC officials "told us that they're not going to kick us out."

Prior to the gift announcement, Diez d'aux had accepted a teaching position at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and plans to move later this year.

Dr. Jaime Oakley is the other physician in the group, and is seeking another doctor to succeed Diez d'aux.

"There are tentative plans for a move" to another location, Diez d'aux said, adding that it will happen "in an orderly way" and that he does not expect to be "particularly disruptive."

Joyce Daniels has operated The Family Life Center, a mental-health counseling and grief counseling service, at Laughlin Square since 2000.

Daniels said she had not been able to meet directly with WSCC officials because she is only in the office by appointment, but said it is her understanding that the college is putting no pressure on current tenants.

Two beauty shops are located in Laughlin Square.

Greer Coiffures was started by the late Trudy Greer and has been in the building for 28 years, said owner Waida Godfrey, who has also been there 28 years.

Godfrey said college officials have been very good about giving tenants plenty of time to relocate.

However, she said she is concerned that the prospect of having to eventually move will make it very difficult to sell her longstanding business.

Touch of Class, another beauty shop, has been in Laughlin Square for eight years, said owner Joann Cutshall.

She said college officials "said they would give us plenty enough time to move" when the college decides to occupy the property.

"We love it here," Cutshall said, adding, "We want to stay as long as we can. It's a good location, with good parking, and our clients really like it."

Cutshall said college officials indicated they hope the current tenants will stay as long as they can.