Four weeks from today, Cincinnati Public Schools is auctioning off some beautiful historic school buildings.
The 9 school buildings are: Bloom, Bramble, Linwood, McKinley, Swifton, Roosevelt, Windsor, Fairview, Heberle. Seven of these are amazing buildings on great sites.
Since they are right across the street, maybe Citylink will buy Bloom and Heberle? Then maybe Terry's Turf Club will buy Linwood or McKinley so that people could actually get a seat when trying to get one of their hamburgers. Alicia and Steve Reese could buy Bramble and Allen AME could buy Swifton(to demolish and build new houses) and Antiques and Antiquities guy could buy Roosevelt. The Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation could buy Windsor, and Justin Jeffre could buy Fairview.
Seriously, some of these buildings are amazing and would be fantastic conversion projects turning them either into housing or offices. Of course they would also make great schools, but that is another story.
UPDATE: Here is a photo list of a similar situation in St. Louis.
Older, Wiser (Maybe), I'm Back
2 months ago
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11 comments:
There are some really good ones in that list.
I worked as a consultant on a historic school to condo conversion and they make great conversions, but I wish someone would consider: If people keep moving downtown, a good private school makes a lot of sense.
Lets just hope the 'social service agencies" dont buy them for another assisted living complex or halfway house treatment facility!
I think anyone buying should be required to submit a plan to planning and zoning before they submit a bid and the neighborhood should have input.After all it was taxpayer dollars that built the schools and taxpayers should have a say about what they are used for, in their neighborhood. BUT that would be FAIR!
Hopefully there are some respectful and creative adaptive reuse projects done with these beauties.
I totally agree with Paul on this one. However, his suggestion would make sense and a lot of what this city does makes no sense. So we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that they aren't turned into more half-way houses.
^Don't get too paranoid. The more likely scenario is an ugly renovation or even demolition. If one can be converted to senior subsidized housing while saving the historic structure as the Cumminsville School was, then I'm all for it.
I just hope that the purchasers do not buy these buildings just to tear them down.
Bravo Paul!
WeDemandAVote.com has been saying the same thing about the streetcar for about a year now. But you can't believe how much animosity people have to the simple idea that taxpayers should have a say in how their dollars are spent.
That would be FAIR!
I sure hope they don't demolish Heberle. I used to tutor there when I was in high school. It's a beautiful building. I distinctly remember a very fancy water fountain that, I assume, was Rookwood. It's hard for me to believe that that was almost 30 years ago.
I agree with Paul that we may be needing these buildings as, (surprise) schools! Which is obviously their best use. They are so beautiful it almost makes me want to cry the things we throw away...
Heaven forbid that an old school be re-used for "social service" such as housing! I believe some should remain a PUBLIC school for those who want to leave in the urban core.
As some one who lives very close to Fairview, since there is no public will to keep it as a public school, I would love to see it renovated for neighborhood use that could be multiple and serve the community that surrounds it. If that means "social service" such as tutoring, day care, art/music, GED, and heaven forbid housing for low-income families I'm all for it. Remember, low-income people pay taxes too!
I believe we should stop blaming poverty on the poor and begin to work to cross our boundaries and differences. And perhaps use our resources wisely like educating all of our citizens equally through quality public schooling will help to change the systemic problems of poverty.
yea and we could use more jail space too that would be a good use for the old schools! jail for those that didn't want the education they were given for free to start with!!
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