Springfield sees progress in cleanup of former Vibra Hospital property

The former Vibra Hospital property is slowly getting its look back as cleanup efforts continue per a legal agreement with the city. 22 News reporter Aretha Odaya joins us live in studio with what happens next. That's right. Mayor Sarno calling it a step in the right direction towards hopefully a new beginning for the rundown property. November 9th is the deadline for outside cleanup to be completed at the former Vibra Hospital in Springfield. A slow but steady progression in the legal agreement between the property owners and the city of Springfield. Step one, you know, just very aggravating that that institution ownership just walked away from that property. I'm not going to tolerate it, nor should my residents or the business community there. A court order requires the vacant 11-acre property on State Street to be cleared of vegetation overgrowth, debris, and trash. The owners reimbursed the city over $40,000 for the cleanup. This after years of ongoing disputes between city leaders and the owners regarding the maintenance. When the time is right and they live up to their expectations, we can do some positive development there. But in the meantime... It's still their responsibility. Mayor Sarno warning parents to keep an eye on their children as well. Groups are known to hang around the area at nighttime. Please tell your kids to stay out of that place because something negative could happen. The Springfield City Solicitor tells me that cleanup should be complete by this Wednesday, but it is unclear the timeline for when something could happen to the property. And the city next plans to get Vibra to regularly maintain the property either by agreement or court order. Working for you, Aretha Odaya, 22 News.