Historic School Could Reopen As Care Facility
Article by Jamie Hall, The Edmonton Journal
An innovative proposal that would allow the historic North Edmonton Elementary School to reopen as an assisted living facility will be considered by public school trustees.
The red-brick building is a city landmark that served students in the area for decades. Two years ago, it was forced to close because of declining enrolment.
The Excel Society, a non-profit organization whose clients are people with disabilities, wants to convert the school into a 30-unit care facility linked to a free-standing wing with an additional 100 units of care housing.
The school's gymnasium would be retained and made available for community use.
Under the 35-year lease-to-own agreement, the society would pay approximately $1.4 million for the school buildings and a portion of the surrounding land.
The project involves the complete renovation of the existing school buildings, as well as construction of additional buildings and improvements.
The society has agreed to retain the exterior of the original structure, which was built in 1917 and is on the city's B list of historical properties. The windows, roof and interior would need to be replaced.
Residents in the new facility would be seniors with dementia and people with brain injuries, each of whom would have their own apartment along with the necessary supportive services.
Board administration is recommending that the project be approved.
"Our Board is strongly supportive of the creative reuse of schools to serve community needs", said Michael Ediger, the board's manager of planning.
"Schools obviously have a long history of serving the community and it's the board's desire that they continue in that vein."
Ediger cited the example of Cromdale School, which was converted into the Eastwood Health Clinic by Capital Health.
He said this will be the direction the board follows in the coming years as demographics change and more established schools within communities are forced to close.
Fours years ago, the Excel Society renovated the vacant King's College, turning it into the Grand Manor, a 56-suite apartment hotel for people who might otherwise be homeless.
The proposed North facility is in keeping with the society philosophy, said President Sharon Read, who hopes to see it completed by March 2010.
