Items Tagged ‘school building’
School Reuse Group Makes Case To Council
Synopsis:
The Save Valley Road Adaptive Reuse Committee (SVARC) hopes to reuse the 1918 Valley Road School in Princeton, New Jersey, with an eye to create Witherspoon Street as a cultural corridor. SVARC has presented its vision of turning the structure into a space for community groups and nonprofits at no taxpayer expense. While some of the building could open up immediately for rental usage, other areas require minor repairs prior to occupancy. The group hopes to replace the boiler as well as repair holes in the roof. There also will be no air conditioning of the first year. Given these issues, SVARC has already received tenative plans from a theatre group.
With $10,000 currently on hand, the group intends to raise the remainder of its funding privately to rehabilitate the building – total costs are projected to be $173,000. Tenants would be required to have an educational component in their mission and rent is proposed at $11 per square foot. This would create a total of $200,000 in rental fees and income.
The community space is only one option for the old school that the group is considering. They hope to gain public input to learn what the community would like to see happen to the building. Another option, which the Borough Council desires for the site, includes the demolition of the school to make way for an expansion of the nearby fire station and moving the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad into the new structure. The owners of the site, Princeton Regional Schools, will make the ultimate decision.
Revised Facilities Policies Approved
Publication Date:
June 14, 2011Written By:
Benjamin HeroldSource:
Philadelphia Public School NotebookRead more...
Synopsis:
Acknowledging a reduction in pupil counts in the school system, Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission (SRC) is moving forward in developing a new facilities’ master plan that includes closing and selling up to 50 school buildings. In order to facilitate with the property dissolution, the SRC unanimously approved an “Adaptive Reuse” policy for the buildings. Under public review and comment, the revised policy that was approved outlines the requirement that “evaluation rubrics” be developed for for each building listed for sale. These rubrics must be created by teams of District staff, city and legislative representatives, and community residents. This policy should help to encourage the reuse of these disposed properties (rather than their demolition) as well as ensure that the new use conforms to the needs and desires of the surrounding community.
Belleville Ponders What To Do About Vacant Properties
Synopsis:
The township of Belleville, New Jersey, is trying to determine the future of three abandoned sites: School No. 1, the former Roche Molecular Systems site, and the former former Garden State Cancer Center site. Of the sites, only the school and the GSCC building still stand. Roche tore down the building at its former site back in October without any indication or explanation why. The township has the opportunity now to reuse the two vacated buildings and find new life for them. The Township will buy the school though it currently has no plans for future use of it. Essex County plans on foreclosing on the GSCC site, and Township Council members have met with the county to discuss future uses though none have been published yet.
Lansing’s High-Tech Industry Goes To Schools
Synopsis:
While Michigan may be facing the highest unemployment rates in the country, entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the times to jump start the economy. Companies are purchasing abandoned school buildings in Lansing, renovating the vacant properties and setting up new ventures. The adapted schools are seeing new life and bringing new opportunities to a community hit hard by the recession. Due to budget issues and decreased values, the companies are able to obtain the properties all low costs (significantly lower than if they built new) and get their operations up and running very quickly. Many of these businesses specialize in technology, helping the state to transition and diversify its economic base.
Schools Getting New Life As Housing
Publication Date:
February 10, 2010Written By:
Richard ConnSource:
The Daily News TribuneRead more...
Synopsis:
The City of Waltham, Massachusetts, is taking advantage of the current real estate market by converting two unused school buildings in their system into senior housing – at a fraction of the cost. The old Hardy School, which was donated to the city by Bentley University, is currently undergoing renovations. It will soon include 19 apartments and a community room. Originally estimated at a $1-million price tag, the project total has come to $640,000. The city is now accepting bids to also adapt the Banks School on Main Street into about 30 units of housing for those 62 and older. A number of units in both buildings will be available for “Section 8″ housing, though the final total has not been determined. This is great news as the city is turning its unused assets into profit-generating buildings while also providing more affordable housing for the elderly.
Redfield House
Synopsis:
History
The old Pittsfield Redfield School was built in 1896 and was able to hold 330 students.[1]
(Re)Developer
The non-profit Berkshire Housing Development Corporation purchased the building to help better serve the needs of the community.
Outcome
Redfield House now serves as a supportive housing complex for young single mothers and their children. The first floor is used for offices and meeting space, while the upper floors include 24 apartments. “It gives women an opportunity to complete their education and learn work skills while living in a safe, secure environment.”[2]
Newly Converted into Classrooms
Synopsis:
Schools in the UK are fining that adaptive reuse of old buildings is far more economic than building new structures in order to deal with growing attendance. This is important as the Conservatives, who plan to take power next year, have stated that schools will need to “do more with less” making the reuse of buildings all the more necessary. While reusing old office and municipal buildings is already a part of the UK school building program, it appears that it will become even more wide spread in the coming years. While there are structural issues with buildings built for other purposes, schools will need to think more creatively in order to resolve ventilation and light problems. The savings can be significant.