If a bond issue for classrooms is approved and the board moves ahead with the current construction plan, the Nevin Coppock building and those on the Broadway school site could be demolished.
That option and possible others for the site were discussed Jan. 8 in the first of what district leaders said would be a series of meetings of a Broadway Future Focus Group.
Among meeting purposes were to “hear the concerns and interests of stakeholders, particularly the neighborhood homeowners,” said district Superintendent Gretta Kumpf.
In addition, goals included “working collaboratively to a positive solution for use of the property when it no longer is used for a school,” she said.
The 6.04 acres located between West Broadway and West Dow streets was home to the building referred to as The Castle starting in 1894.
The Castle was joined in 1916 by the Tipp Central building and then the Broadway 1953. A Broadway addition was done in 1966, the same year The Castle was razed. The district ended use of Tipp Central for classes in 2004.
More than 50 people attended the meeting.
Kumpf explained state law dictates the district’s responsibilities if the school building is not going to be used. The district must offer the land to any community or STEM schools in the school district’s territory. There are none.
The second step is public auction or a direct sale.
The property is zoned R-2 single-family residential, a designation allowing single-family dwellings, passive parks/open space and other uses with city Planning Board approval.
Meeting participants were asked to share worries regarding the property without the school and potential uses they would welcome. Board member Sam Spano said the board has not discussed specific proposals, saying the forums were intended to help guide that decision.
One participant said a prison should be ruled out while others said rental properties should not be allowed. Other participants said the playground and open space at the school site are used frequently by residents for recreation such as football games.
Another meeting of the focus group, open to the public, is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 5 at Broadway school.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.
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