Leavenworth ? Officials say plans for the Leavenworth Veterans Affairs Medical Center will be the largest public-private preservation project in the history of Kansas.

A $50 million to $70 million redevelopment project could return the sleepy campus to its lively past that included a time when the first wave of Civil War patients arrived in Leavenworth by train.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced recently that a private development company, Pioneer Group of Topeka, had been selected to redevelop and lease 38 historic buildings on the VA campus.

“It’s not just good for saving the buildings,” said Christy Davis, an administrator with the Kansas Historic Preservation Office. “These developers have shown that it’s a money-making endeavor. It’s an enormous economic opportunity.”

When the project is completed, it will be the largest public-private endeavor of its kind in the history of the state, Davis said.

The storied buildings, which were designated for demolition in 1999, include a dozen domiciliaries that served as quarters for soldiers with disabilities, a mess hall, sprawling homes wrapped with porches and other architectural relics. The developer expects to transform the buildings into private residences, small businesses, college classrooms, veterans’ housing and more. VA officials seem confident the project will succeed, but significant hurdles remain for the company.

For years, preservationists have fought the prospect of razing the buildings. The well-oiled group had many of the buildings classified as endangered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

But the VA presented some significant arguments for demolition. The cleared land would have been given to the Leavenworth National Cemetery, which was desperate for grave space. The cemetery adjoins the campus.

Also, the VA spends at least $100,000 each year to maintain the 38 structures.

For now, it appears that both problems have been solved. The developer has agreed to turn over land for 15,000 grave sites. The additional space is expected to accommodate the cemetery until 2040. Also, the renovation means the company will be responsible for maintenance rather than the VA.

If negotiations go as planned, the buildings would be leased for up to 75 years by the Eisenhower Ridge Assn., a separate entity created by Pioneer Group. In turn, the developer would restore the buildings’ exteriors, remodel the interiors and rent the space for profit.

Rick Kready, vice president of operations for the Pioneer Group, said he had spoken with several potential renters.