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.

1 minute read

December 18, 2006, 9:00 AM PST

By Alex Pearlstein


"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."

Friday, December 15, 2006 in Waco Tribune-Herald

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