Recently the Department of Veterans Affairs announced plans to shed 430 underused properties across the country.

According the the VA the move could save the department as much as $7 million a year. In June the VA started getting rid of 71 VA owned properties and said they would be getting rid of 71 more in the next 6 months. According to the VA, the last 288 properties would be shed over the next two years.

Kristi Catrenich, Public Affairs Officer with VA Central Iowa Health Care System, tells KNIA/KRLS News the Knoxville Campus historic buildings are on the list, but Knoxville is ahead of the curve. Catrenich says since moving to the new clinic and with the lease agreement ending, they immediately started working with their Office of Real Estate, General Service Administration, and the City of Knoxville for the next steps to take regarding the historic campus.

According to Catrenich, GSA did an initial assessment of the property several months ago and she is currently awaiting that first draft of recommendations. She says her team will continue to have regular meetings with the city, GSA, and national VA team as recommendations for the properties evolve.