Badin vs. Versailles
Law Enforcement Memorial Day
American Idol 2012 finale
Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > December > 19 > Entry
The battle for Roosevelt HS
There was supposed to be a meeting tonight to discuss the future of Roosevelt High School, the Titanic monolith that shadows west Third Street. It was suddenly canceled Friday, with plans to reschedule the presentation for next month.
Stay tuned. This is an emotional issue and a battle could be brewing. Here are some of the problems:
—One the school board side, Roosevelt is an old building that is now empty and costing more than $100,000 a year for basic utilities and minimal maintenance. The board currently has no plans to re-use the building in the future and, frankly, wants to be rid of it. But they also don’t want to turn it over to just anyone, as some “save Roosevelt’ advocates have asked, because the board doesn’t want to be blamed if some day Roosevelt is even more of a decaying eyesore than it is today.
And the board has funds from the state to tear Roosevelt down. Rather than risk letting the school become a decaying albatross, the board would rather roll out the wrecking ball. And its poised to do so if another option doesn’t emerge fast.
—A developer has a plan and, apparently, pretty solid financing to rehab the building. There are lots of use possibilities. Senior apartments have been mentioned. The recreation space (swimming pool, gym, running track, meeting space) could be used by a private gym or community group like the Boys and Girls Club or even the city recreation department. Small businesses or community organizations could be housed in the office space.
The board would love to see the school redeveloped in this way and they are holding out hope this group can pull it off. But there is a lot of pressure to get the deal done quick. The board doesn’t want to keep waiting.
—Some in the community that surrounds the school want it saved but aren’t sure about some of the ideas for use the developer is kicking around. These folks are anxious for the public unveiling of the developer’s plans, which was supposed to come today. The delay is only going to make the folks more anxious. And others in the community are less sentimental about saving the school. They want the eyesore gone, whether it is redeveloped or torn down, and don’t want to wait.
—Preservationists are also in the mix, and in the case of Roosevelt they have a strong argument for preserving it as a historic artifact. The school was truly a marvel when it was built — it was one of the largest schools in the country. And it played an important role in the integration of Dayton, bringing black and white children together in some ways, reinforcing racial divisions in others. Plus, many of Dayton’s most important figures went to school there. It’s awfully hard to argue that the school doesn’t still have historical value.
So don’t be surprised if this issue heats up next month, even in the January cold.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Nancy
December 22, 2005 2:16 AM | Link to this
There are even other uses for space at Roosevelt, such as boutiques, small stores of many kinds, a library section, tutoring,perhaps a coffee shop version, etc.etc. I visited other state’s redeveloped school buildings and the apartments were wonderful. Take a look here in Dayton in Mcphersontown at the apartments in the old Hawthorne school building. (This building was incorrectly designated by another name in a recent Sunday edition) Roosevelt redevelopers should have more than one opportunity to display their plans to the public. One night is not enough.By Renee
December 20, 2005 7:37 PM | Link to this
I am not an Ohioan; however, I have family in the Dayton area and have been following this tumultuous battle over Roosevelt High School. My interest lies with the community. It is blatantly obvious to me that when you have an economically debilitated infrastructure such as that found in the West End community, county, city, and for that matter state of Ohio, the only way to improve the quality of life for its people and secure the survival of the community is through economic development. I applaud the Ohio based (incorrectly stated as the “Louisville based�) developer, Karrington Group, for realizing the importance of economic revitalization/economic-based restructuring through community-based need, taking the initiative to create a viable plan and creating a vehicle for getting things done. The listed uses of the building (senior housing, child day care, community theater, a public natatorium, community meeting facilities, nonprofit office space and a police substation) are definitely needed in the community and bring funds, jobs, and positive attention and future initiative into an area which at this time has not been offered any other hope. Many of use the analogy, “Would you cut-off your right hand to spite your left?� Then, why would the city cut-off Roosevelt High School, a promising opportunity for economic re-development in the West End community through demolition, before it gives it the opportunity to provide a promising future of needed and required economic revitalization for its own community?