Bassett Hospital is considering the possibility of leasing office space and moving some of its operations off campus to alleviate a space crunch.

Hospital spokeswoman Karen Huxtable confirmed Wednesday morning that the healthcare institution is currently in discussions with the owner of the Greystone building on State route 28, south of Cooperstown.

The hospital is not in negotiations to purchase the property, she said.

Greystone's owner Michael Manno also confirmed Wednesday that he is in negotiations with Bassett to lease the 27,000 square foot building.

Manno said he currently has a couple of tenants in the building and that Bassett would occupy a portion of the facility until current leases expire and more space becomes available.

The building, which sits on an almost seven-acre parcel, is the former Corvette Hall of Fame and was purchased by Manno in 1998. Otsego County previously leased space in the building for a part of the department of social services. Those county offices moved out of Greystone in 2004 to the county's old Otsego Manor.

Huxtable said the hospital is "tapped out" for space on its campus and that moving some operations off site will help address that problem.

The village planning board had asked Bassett to look at the possibility of moving some of its operations off campus to reduce demand for employee parking as an option to its proposed parking plan. That request is to be included in the draft environmental impact statement the hospital is preparing for its parking plan.

But according to Huxtable, it would not be accurate to say the possible relocation of some of its operations to Hartwick Seminary was a response to the planning board's suggestion.

She did say that anytime they are able to free up employee parking for patients it is a benefit.

Because they are still in negotiations, Huxtable said she was not at liberty to provide additional information at this time.