old high school building news

Subj: Old High School Building News

Date: 11/13/1999 7:02:08 AM Central Standard Time

Denison board will decide fate of old building By Gary Carter Herald Democrat

The next time you drive down Denison's Main Street, take a good look at the old high school ... it may be the last time you see it.

Next week, the Denison School Board will decide the vacant building's fate.

But if the non-profit group Denison Heritage Inc. (DHI) has its way, plans to renovate and save the old building could stop the wrecking ball.

Dr. Henry Scott, Denison's superintendent, said the school district is mulling a proposal from a Dallas developer to buy the old school property for about $110,000 (the appraised value), tear down the historic school, and put up a retail outlet.

"We've been working with a person that's interested in buying the property," Scott said. "His plans include demolishing the building and putting up a retail business area there. You could see a part of the old school being used in a park setting on the west side."

At the school board's October meeting, the offer from the developer was discussed but put on hold while DHI continued to make plans to save the building. Tuesday night, the board will again decide whether to sell the property or to give DHI more time.

DHI President Joy Bryant said more time may not be needed, because the non-profit group may try to buy the old high school and set the renovation plan in motion. She said DHI is going to propose to the board that the group buys the building and starts phase one of the renovation project.

If purchased, DHI would immediately begin a fund-raising campaign. She said it could take up to $2 million for the first phase renovation, which would include tearing down the newer, more dilapidated wings of the school, mothballing the old auditorium, and taking the original school building down to a shell. Cosmetic enhancements would be made, the clock tower would be running again, and the building secured from vandals. Then comes phase two, making the building a viable part of the economy.

DHI is poised to make the old high school an arts and conference center. But it would be more than that to Bryant and those in DHI. It would mean preserving Denison's heritage.

"Currently, Denison is designated a National Historic Commercial District. And for that, you have to have buildings that are historical and haven't been altered. Those are the Katy Depot, the old Ice House [which is gone] and the old high school. If we lose the old high school, we could lose our historical designation."

But to do the things DHI proposes, it will take substantial financial help from the community. "With the new proposal to the school district from someone wanting to tear it down, that makes our efforts even more urgent. Maybe it will make people get off the fence and decide if they want to save the old school," Bryant added.

Dr. Mavis Bryant, also with DHI, said the reality of tearing down the old high school is that "demolition will endanger the current upsurge in heritage and cultural tourism downtown. That tourism already has increased city sales tax revenues dramatically. Renovation of old DHS, in contrast, will help foster tourism by retaining one of the most important things that makes Denison unique."

Scott said the Board has worked with DHI for the past three years to see if the old building could be saved. "But we've reached a point where something needs to be done. That building is deteriorating every day and it's worse now than it was even a year ago."

He said the board has a commitment to the school district and the community to not let the old building become an eyesore. "It would take more than the $110,000 to buy the building (for DHI), we need a plan. It's quite an ambitious project to refurbish that building."

Scott said if DHI could come to the board with a commitment of a sizable amount of money to refurbish the old school, than the board "would certainly consider it."

JoNell Helm, board member, said right now, "cold, hard cash is being offered for the building, and that's kind of hard to turn down." She said she always wanted to save the old high school, "but I think it's just too far gone. And I don't see citizens of Denison coming up with that kind of money it takes to refurbish it."

Joy Bryant said this could be DHI's final go at saving the structure. "I've got a strong feeling this is the last chance to save the building."

Bill McLeRoy, fund-raising consultant on the renovation project for DHI, spent six months interviewing people and checking funding sources for the renovation and reuse of the old school. He called the fund-raising task "not impossible, but very challenging." He said a number of key people were enthusiastic about the renovation - people capable of leveraging major financial resources for saving the building.

Mavis Bryant said it's not too late for the community too help. According to her, you can "let your school board member know how you feel before Tuesday's meeting and make a substantial donation or pledge to save the old high school."

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