Signature Lexington property hasn’t sold in 2 years. It was listed at 1/3 of its value.

The site of the former Shriners Hospital at 1900 Richmond Road may be one of Lexington’s best-known locations, and its long sloping lawn one of the city’s most popular winter recreation sites. But selling it has not been smooth sledding.

The 28-acre site of the former Shriners Hospital at 1900 Richmond Road has been for sale since early 2016. It was initially listed at $25.9 million and most recently $18.9 million.

The Fayette property valuation administrator lists the site at $56.3 million cash value.

The site is near the prestige subdivisions of Ashland Park, Fairway and Lakeshore/Lakeview Estates and located a straight shot from the heart of downtown. Its sloping front has long been the site of choice for neighborhood winter sledding.

Lexington firm NAI Isaac no longer represents the property. After a call from a reporter earlier this week, the firm removed its online listing for the Shriners site. It is unclear which firm will now represent the property for sale.

Shriners moved to its new location on Conn Terrace near the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital in April, 2017.

Wanda Rice, a spokesman for the Lexington Shriners Hospital, said that the old hospital “is still on the market and we’re still evaluating the various options. There have been potential buyers; of course there are confidentiality agreements there.”...

Shriners real estate operations are run out of the organization’s Tampa headquarters.

Bill Farmer, council member for Lexington’s Fifth District, said that the Shriners property “is well positioned for a lot of good uses that the neighborhoods ... would welcome.”

“That great lawn is something everyone who drives up and down Richmond Road is proud of,” he said.

This story was originally published October 26, 2018 at 12:36 PM.