WBRZ - Baton Rouge

GONZALES, La. - Ascension Parish officials will decide by January what to do with the old Ascension Hospital.

The Advocate reports an architectural firm has recommended the hospital be demolished and replaced by a $7.8 million, 42,000-square-foot building to house 12 departments of parish government.

But officials are evaluating the best course of action, including possibly renovating a portion of the existing hospital and building new parish government offices on the property. The site is on East Worthey Road near the Ascension Parish Courthouse Annex.

Parish President Tommy Martinez said architects for the firm Mougeot Architecture presented a report to a Parish Council committee on Oct. 1. He said he'll study the situation for a couple of months before making a recommendation to the council in January.