Is that what we are willing to accept, a few townhouses (which by the way will probably be in the $300,000 to $350,000 range anyway) rather than an imaginative reuse of an existing building? (I agree that a cul de sac of a few $500k homes is totally out of the question).
What are the chances that the “future” 58 unit senior’s condo will ever get built, and what do we even know about what it will look like or what they will be priced at? I think we have heard this story before from any number of developers.
As for the NIMBY’s, well what is there now is already in there backyard so why not try to improve on it.
The City just held a forum on affordable housing, or lack there of, in the city so rather than piss and moan about what to do about it why didn’t someone on Council step up and say, “hey, why don’t we partner with a developer to see what we can do here”. (Crystal ball into the future….McPherson School ???).
These decommissioned school properties (see also Bishops and Booth) should be looked at as “special” sites that should get a little leeway in terms of zoning in exchange for some creative reuse ideas. Step up people…and that includes developers…and bring forward some creative ideas.
I realize that I J Samson isn’t exactly out of a Frank Lloyd-Wright sketch books but I’m willing to bet it still has some “good bones” and with a little creativity could serve the public, through providing good, convenient housing, for years to come.
A quick Google search will give you many examples of how old schools can breath new life.
Here are just a few examples:
http://www.kirbyschoolapts.com/
http://media.troyrecord.com/2017/01/...ntral-troy/#13
http://kfor.com/2017/04/05/the-old-d...munity-center/