Work that will eventually turn 110-year-old Central School into much-needed residential apartments has begun! T.W. Clark Construction + Ridley will start with some grant-funded preliminary work which includes repair and maintenance of historic features. This work consists of the installation of skylights, painting of exterior wood trim and wood on the bell tower, work on the vertical circulation/accessibility components of the project, and removal of carpeting to allow floors to be refinished.
The process of re-purposing the school has been a long one, interrupted by COVID and supply chain delays. Supporters of the project have refused to give up hope of seeing the transformation completed, and that end appears to be in sight now. Quality housing is a critical need in Roundup. The apartments will be LEED certified, saving energy costs for future renters. To obtain a LEED certificate, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality. The apartments will not be rent-subsidized, and the construction is privately funded, with the exception of a small grant paying for the work described above. Its value when completed will have a big impact on the City and County tax rolls, as well as on the recently-created TIF district which provides funding for infrastructure and amenity upgrades within the district.
So, if you see the construction crew working on the school as you drive by, honk your horn in thanks. They are helping to improve the quality of life in Roundup, and saving a piece of our history. The bell in the tower will ring again when work on the main part of the project begins, and then in celebration with the community when the certificate of occupancy is received at the conclusion of re-purposing.
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