Turn Those Old Schools Into Housing Units

Monday, February 02, 2009 03:45 AM

We all know that two things are happening in this province, and country. We are seeing an aging population, we are not having as many children as we formerly did, and we have closed schools as a means of trying to cut costs to education.

Now that raises an interesting issue, if we have school grounds and school facilities sitting idle, then why are we not converting them to low income housing or for that matter converting schools into low income housing units. Instead of paying $270,000 dollars a unit of low cost housing as we have in the case of the old backpacker why not, renovate some of these old facilities.

The argument you get is that it will cost too much , but then these same people must not be talking to the contractors that I do because they say nonsense we can convert these facilities for ,”a hell of a lot less” than what was spent on the backpacker.

If basic housing is what we are looking for what’s wrong with such a program and if we also need to provide more housing for the seniors in the city, cut one of those large ball diamonds out of the mix and hand that property to be put to good use.

If we have a declining youth population and there is evidence of that in the lack of use of many recreation facilities, then simply turn them into productive facilities.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’ opinion.

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Posted on Monday, February 02, 2009 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: MrPG on February 2 2009 8:13 AM

That idea will never fly. It makes far too much sense.

Posted by: heidi1555 on February 2 2009 9:52 AM

Yes, it makes a lot of sense indeed. Any cause could work in an old school building if the building is up to code of course. We don't want another run down long term care facility in our city. Not healthy.

Posted by: kagee on February 2 2009 12:31 PM

They converted a school in Kelowna into senior housing. I think that they even won an award for it.

Posted by: Wolfie on February 2 2009 1:13 PM

So do you mean seniors' housing or low-income housing in the more traditional sense of the phrase? This is a bit confusing because you mention the Backpacker, and then go on to talk about seniors.

At any rate, I agree that this would be a good idea for housing for seniors, but not for homeless shelter-type low income housing. Imagine if you were a young family who had bought a specific property because it was close to an elementary school for your kids, and then it turned into housing for the types who roam about downtown? That would never fly.

As a disclaimer though, I totally feel that this town does need more social housing, but I don't feel that creating them inside well established residential areas is the answer.

Posted by: gus on February 2 2009 7:35 PM

There are schools, and then there are schools.

Look at the old schools, like KGV, like the Catholic H.S. they all have corridors, with 24 foot to 26 foot wide classrooms with access to outside windows. They make wonderful conversion to housing.

Not so the schools build since the 1960/70's. The series of schools like Heritage, Gladstone, etc have an interior core used for library and administrative offcies which have no access to daylight surrounded by class room which do. Only those classroom portinons would be easily converted to rooms with ventilation and daylight access. The inner core would have to be converted to another use, such as fitness rooms for the residents. Unlike schools like the old part of KGV, they also have gymnasiums, which could be converted to what? loft apartments?

New air distribution systems, new heating systems, new plumbing systems, new electrical systems, additional insulation in the walls and roof, etc, etc.

Count on $150+ per sf for converting those school designs.

The school in Kelowna might be the one which was a hertiage building and is a youth centre with housing opportunities at night in a hostel type of setting.

Posted by: gus on February 2 2009 7:39 PM

So we will create them in not so well established residential areas. Like the Lansdowne trailer park area perhaps? Or the "hood"? Or am I not understanding what is meant by a "well established neighbourhood"?

Posted by: Wolfie on February 2 2009 10:18 PM

Well Gus, I'm not sure what the enrolment situation is like at the various schools, but typically the lower income families are the ones having the most kids, so empty schools in these areas aren't usually a problem.