The Greene County Schools board of education at its Sept. 16 meeting set the Oct. 21 regular meeting as the time for a public hearing on the possible sale of the former middle school. The likely buyer is Nate Adams of Carroll, who hopes to develop the 1921 building into upscale apartments.
At the same time, school superintendent Tim Christensen was directed to get bids on asbestos and lead abatement in the school, which would be the district’s responsibility prior to sale, and to get bids on demolition of the attached gymnasium, which was built in 1952.
Adams spoke to the board at the work session prior to the regular meeting. He shared much of the same information as during his July visit. He said he was sharing “a vision, a plan,” based on the Vision 2020 plan completed by Greene County Development Corporation in 2017.
That plan suggested a need for more rental housing for those with annual incomes less than $25,000 or more than $50,000. Adams’ target market is the latter.
The middle school redevelopment is a key piece of the “Three Block Plan,” an idea spun out of Vision 2020. The former middle school and the administration building, which also houses Greene County Early Learning Center, comprise two blocks.
Greene County Community Center is the third block. There are no plans for that property in the near term, but the suggestion is that Harrison St, which is on the south side of the community center, could be closed from time to time for public events. That creates three contiguous blocks.
The Three Block Plan includes building a new Early Learning Center and razing the current building (the former south grade school). The Early Learning Center board has announced plans for a new building and is seeking funds.
Large green spaces with amenities like a picnic grove, a play area and walking paths are envisioned. The vision does not include the 1952 gymnasium.
Adams said he’s an advocate for the Three Block Plan but admitted, “there are several pieces in play here.” He said at this time the Three Block Plan is “all vision, all high-level thinking.”
The future of the gymnasium is not dependent on the future of the Three Block Plan. Adams has no use for the gymnasium and it’s not old enough to qualify for historic tax credits, a funding source he hopes to use for the school redevelopment.
If the gym were kept but separated from the 1921 structure, cost to install a HVAC system (currently the structures are on the same system) and to do much needed roof work approaches $1 million.
School activities Todd Gordon said the district will have no use for the gym once the renovation of the middle school (former high school) gym is finished and the new high school gymnasium is finished. Both are expected in the next several weeks.
Adams is well beyond high-level thinking on repurposing the 1921 school into apartments. He said he has received bids on the project and has narrowed his decision to three groups.
There has been no public discussion of what money would change hands in selling the school to Adams. Cost to raze the 3-story buildings in Scranton, Rippey and Grand Junction has been in the neighborhood of $150,000 each. Adams said he was ready to help the school board in “trying to get rid of the asset of the school.”
Adams and GCDC president Sid Jones plan to update the Jefferson city council and the Greene County board of supervisors on the status of the Three Block Plan in the next few weeks. Adams is also scheduled to speak at the GCDC annual meeting Sept. 23.
