With or Without KGV -- Plans Prepared for New High School

Thursday, December 01, 2005 04:00 AM

District 57's plans for a replacing Duchess Park have been complicated by KGV "Heritage Factor"

School District 57 is moving ahead with plans to replace Duchess Park Secondary School, but just what that means for the neighbouring and now-closed KGV elementary remains to be seen...

The Board had planned to demolish both Duchess and KGV to make way for the new high school, until the City's Heritage Commission threw up a red flag this past summer. The Commission contended, and a subsequent review by an independent consultant concurred, the original 1920 portion of the building has significant "heritage value" as its the last of its kind still standing in Prince George. The consultant pegged the cost of preserving the building and incorporating it into the new school at approximately $2.5-million dollars.

On October 31st, City Council endorsed, in-principle, retaining all or a portion of the former elementary school: thereby, throwing a wrench in the school district's demolition plans (click here, for full story).

Since then, the two sides have met to try and find a way out of the impasse. School Board Chair, Bill Christie, says for a "few extra dollars" the district has asked the architect preparing plans for the new secondary school to include the three options council looked at:

1. retaining and incorporating the entire original building in the new school
2. maintaining the original portion of KGV as a stand alone building on-site
3. incorporating the original facade into the new school

Christie says the costs associated with each option will also be fleshed out and presented to a joint meeting of the City and school district sometime in January. But he points out that time is of the essence, with Ministry funding for the new school dependent on having a feasibility study complete by April 2nd. And Christie says, "The bottom line for the board is, we are going ahead."

As for City Council, City Manager, George Paul, says Councillors are looking forward to seeing the architect's plans and advice and will involve the Heritage Commission and original consultant in the process. He says everyone is looking forward to that January meeting.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: anon on December 1 2005 5:37 PM

I agree that the school district should wait to see if we have enough students before building a new Dutchess Park. The money should be used to improve the existing high schools, starting with cafiterias which would serve healthy food to our students.

Posted by: Chester on December 1 2005 10:45 PM

2.5 Million Dollars? There has to be greater needs in this community than trying to retain such a plain, non-descript building. It has $0 Heritage value to me.

It's not some piece of architecture that is worthy of pumping money into that we don't have.

Has anyone bothered to look inside or walk around the outside. It looks like a boarded up army barracks. Is this really worth salvaging? If it is, what are we going to do with it, just look at it?
Chester