MINUTES A Community Vision for Schenley High School Community Meeting 2 11 July 2012 Consultant Report: Findings & Analysis
Building on community comments from Meeting 1, a series of “test-fits” or capacity studies were presented for the reuse of Schenley High School, including reuse as a school. Benchmarks of successful school reuses were presented along with information on zoning, parking and the applicability of preservation tax credits for each of the possible Schenley test-fits. The following lists represent ideas and comments about each test-fit from participants of Community Meeting 2, held at UCP, 4638 Centre Avenue on July 11, 2012.
NOTES FROM BREAK-OUT DISCUSSIONS ON POTENTIAL TEST-FITS Learning • Reuse Schenley as a school, with a public school being the preferred use • Retain as a unique, innovative school of some sort • Create lifelong learning / continuing education (a Mary Schenley “Universal School”) • Besides the option of reuse as a public school, other possible uses for all or part of the building could include: - charter school - community/adult education - GED/Specialized classes - vo-tech course/labs, in innovative subjects such as robotics - studio/gallery space (for organizations such as Manchester Craftsmenʼs Guild - day care • Explore interim uses of the building until the “best” long-term use can be determined • Provide community access to auditorium, gym and pool • Show school board that reusing Schenley can be economical compared to long-term costs to renovate Peabody • Asbestos, regardless of quantity, will be an issue (perceived or real) that will have to be dealt with for any reuse option