What does the county want to do with the building?
First, it’s important to note that no decisions have been made about any county services or local organizations that will utilize the space. We have engaged with several local non-profit organizations to gauge levels of interest in various uses of the space. Those conversations have been encouraging but not definitive. The lease with the Warren County School District affords a year for us to undertake a strategic planning effort to explore the art of the possible and whether utilizing this space is feasible for us.
What will that planning look like?
We recognize determining the full extent of what is possible is outside of our expertise. Each potential entity will have their own access, security and footprint needs. As a result, we will be drafting and publishing a Request for Proposals in the coming weeks for the architect/building utilization/engineer services we’ll need to fully explore the possibilities for the building.
Wouldn’t private industry purchasing and developing the building be its best use?
Warren County does not inherently disagree with this assessment. But we also recognize that there are unique challenges to redeveloping school buildings. There are several in Warren County that have remained vacant or underutilized for many years.
Is the $93,000 cost for utilities accurate?
That is the number provided to us by the Warren County School District. That number is based on full utilization as a school. Whether that number is what the county can expect should we opt into the lease can’t be known at this time as it would be based on building utilization levels, market prices at that time, etc.
Will Mike Shine Field, the gym, the auditorium and locker rooms still be publicly-accessible spaces?
Mike Shine Field is in the process of being subdivided from the building into its own parcel that the WCSD will retain moving forward. So, yes, the field will remain accessible. We’re hopeful that the other spaces - locker rooms, gym, auditorium - can be utilized as a community resource; however that’s the purpose of our planning. We need to better understand how that might work and how it can be facilitated. However, our planning will have an eye toward public access for those spaces.
Will the building go back on the tax roles as a result of this lease?
No, it will not. The WCSD will retain ownership so the tax status of the building will not change.
Who takes on the maintenance and utility bill for the building?
While we explore options, the WCSD has agreed to cover the cost of the utilities. It’s important to note that the actual utility cost for the building for the next year will be far less than when it was functioning as a school. Should the county opt in to the 25-year lease, all maintenance, capital and utility costs would be the responsibility of the county.
Is the lease really for just $1 per year?
Yes. This nominal lease amount provides the maximum flexibility as we explore redevelopment of the building. We continue to engage with entities and organizations that may be interested in utilizing space in the building. We recognize that those organizations will have their own needs. So we’re sure there will be some physical alterations to the building that need to be funded in order to facilitate those uses. Keeping the lease amount nominal allows the greatest chance that the redevelopment proposal can cashflow positively.
Will the building be turned into housing for either seniors, low-income individuals or the homeless?
While the county has considered a wide array of potential options for the future of the building under the terms of this lease, none of those proposals have included redeveloping the building for housing uses. Such proposals are likely cost prohibitive.
How much is this going to save?
That’s a question where the answer is not known at this time. Savings will be a key metric that we aim to identify in our planning process. However, until we firm up which organizations/entities will utilize the space, we can’t estimate possible savings. The county does lease space around the county for its operations. The annual cost of those arrangements is in excess of $250,000.