Converting A High School Into Housing
In a creative deal to save a historic structure and also add to the city's desperately needed stock of workforce housing, the school district in Waco, Texas, agreed to sell the old Waco High building to a private developer.
"Waco schools trustees voted unanimously to sell the vacant old Waco High School building Thursday night in a deal that would allow a private developer to transform the landmark into an affordable-housing project in the heart of downtown."
"The project will turn old Waco High into about 70 loft-style apartments for families with incomes between $20,000 and $30,000. Once the development deal is finalized, the Waco Independent School District will net $900,000, which excludes $350,000 the developer has dedicated for asbestos abatement as part of the deal."
"Officials from Landmark Group, based in North Carolina, say they plan to put about $11 million into the development, which will be done in accordance with federal standards for the treatment of historic buildings."
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
- Using Adaptive Reuse to Scale the Urban Future - Feb 08, 2012
- In LA, Agricultural-Residential Zoned Neighborhoods Threatened - Jan 25, 2012
- Houston Densifies and Diversifies Housing - Jan 04, 2012
- "Environmental Architecture" at its Finest - Nov 27, 2011
- Vacant Historic Hotel to be Reused as Transitional Housing - Nov 26, 2011
Planetizen picks
Contribute
- Are the Arts Losing Out in D.C. Redevelopment?
- Detroit For Sale?
- Chinese Cities in Desperate Need of Competent Planning
- The Rise of Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing
- What the Feds are Doing to Connect Housing Policy to Health Policy
- Why the Politics of Climate Change Matter
- Waste Disposal Becomes Sexy
- Murky Future for Two of D.C.'s Architectural Gems
- The Story Behind One of the Most Controversial Buildings in the Country
- The Benefits of Creating Hybrid Zoning Codes
My Storm, Managing the Recovery of New Orleans in the Wake of Katrina is Required Reading for Planners
U Penn Press
Feb 13, 2012
Volunteerism Plays Critical Role in Reaching World’s Millennium Development Goals
Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
Feb 10, 2012
www.flickr.com
|
What's old is new
Hasn't this been done before, say about 35 years ago in Ithaca NY, where the Former Ithaca High and Dewitt Middle School was saved at the last minute and converted into the Dewitt Mall, as well as offices and housing. Still, it will be a beneficial project for downtown Waco, since it will preserve one of the very few buildings of character in its downtown.
Waco has TONS of character!
How many times have you been to Waco? It is so not true that Waco has no character. There are a lot of buildings, especially downtown that are neat old buildings that people have fought to keep down there. You should visit more often. I would gladly give you a tour to show you some of the uniquness of this great town. Cool old buildings: Alico, The Hippodrome, The Preatoriun, The Court House, The Bridges, The Freeman Center, The Shops at Spice, I could go on, but I'd rather have you come visit us to see for yourself!