Plans to renovate the old First Ward School into affordable senior housing were met with resistance by two local residents during an informational meeting Monday night at Jennings Randolph Elementary, and one woman claimed she's moving because she's so upset.
The $2.4 million project would renovate the historic building into 16 apartments, with eight single units and eight double units. Representatives from Citizens for Historical Opportunity, Preservation and Education in Randolph County and A.U. Associates answered questions about the plans, and said the community will see a range of benefits from the building's renovation.
"We a have a really great opportunity to save the First Ward School," C-HOPE member Logan Smith said.
The building was constructed from 1907 to 1908 and was used as a learning facility from 1908 to 1976, said local historian and C-HOPE member Rob Whetsell. He said the building was designed by architect Andrew C. Lyons and only three of his buildings are left in West Virginia.
"It has always been an important part of Elkins," Whetsell said. "When the building was first built, it served as Elkins High School. The first state championship basketball team was from this school."
AU Associates project designer Johan Graham said his company is a historic developer that does 90 percent of its work in adaptive-reuse projects.
"(This) is our niche," he said. "It is what we do. The potential to save the building is tremendous."
He said renovation and construction work will be funded through state and federal historic tax credits, federal low-income tax credits and grants from the West Virginia Historic Preservation Office. Funding for the project was obtained in November, and he said construction will begin in April and finish in 2013.
"When we are done, it will look like a new building," he said.
Randolph County Housing Authority Director Karen Jacobson said the RCHA will serve as the property manager. The facility will serve residents 55 years old and older. She said all residents will have to pass background checks that show they've had no felony convictions in the past five years and no sexual-offense charges or drug charges.
"Everyone on the lease has to pass the background check," she said.
During the meeting, residents Jerry Gibson and Diane Volitis both spoke out against the project. Volitis claimed that no one asked any of the neighbors what they wanted.
"The neighbors I spoke with do not want this," Volitis said. "I live right in the alley and I am going to have to live with it and see it. You don't care about the neighbors there."
She said the neighbors should have been approached sooner about the project.
"I am selling my property," she said. "I'm moving; you ran me out of my home."
Gibson also shared comments and was visibly upset.
"I live right next door for 22 years," he said. "Not one of you ever approached me about this project."
Gibson questioned who is going to look out for the best interest of the neighbors.
"I would've loved to see something done for the old Elkins High School," he said. "I want to see this building renovated and saved. I want to know how this will affect me."
Smith said he personally walked through the area and spoke with many people who were at home about a year ago.
Graham explained that information about the project was not released sooner because the first thing that needed to be done was the feasibility study.
"It sat vacant because there was no funding," he said. "The overwhelming sentiment was to save the building. In the past there (were) several plans and the neighborhood got excited - and (the projects) fizzled without funding."
Graham also said the renovations would affect the neighborhood in a positive way.
"You will not have a dilapidated building in your backyard," he said.
Local business owner and landlord Richard Holland spoke to the crowd in favor of the project.
"I don't have a dog in the fight," he said. "From what I've seen tonight, this can be a beautiful building. You have to let these folks show you what is happening. Your property values will go up."
Contact Anthony Gaynor by email at agaynor@theintermountain.com.
