I got this email regarding the cost estimates for fixing up Old Central High School which now functions primarily as an administrative center for ISD 709. Jana Hollingsworth wrote an excellent summary in the DNT of our difficulties. Here’s the email:
From: “****** *********”
To:
Cc:
Sent: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 14:47:37 -0500
Subject: Old Central repairs.Hi. I just read the article about Old Central needing repairs to the tune of 18M.
Do you remember, about 14 or so years ago, that there was an offer from some developer to buy the building and turn it into condos and that it was vetoed because it “just wasn’t Duluth?” I have searched on my own and cannot find it. But I remember talking about it with my husband.
I wonder if you remember or, if not, might have the ability to find something on it? Or am I nuts?
Thanks. I appreciate your views, as I recall our valiant, but ultimately fruitless, fight against the Red Plan.
****** *********
And here is my reply:
Hi ********,
Read this on my cell last night with family and knew the answer was too long to pound out in front of them.
Here’s a brief summary of what I recall.
School Board member Garry Krause began advocating for us to sell Old Central about 15 years ago. I seconded his motions to bring the subject up for discussion purposes. I do think the arguments for preservation are hard to fight. But the cost, $18 million are hard to swallow. Alanna Oswald put them perfectly and succinctly in the Trib’s story. If its mortar vs. children…..well, its time children win that one.
Ironically that’s where I first ran across Gary Glass, Central Grad Supreme. He was not happy with Garry (2 r’s) suggestion.
The developer you have in mind must be Mr. Sherman of Sherman Associates. That was his first introduction to Duluth. Things didn’t work out on the Central Sale for various reasons and he went on to other projects like his condo hotel. He’s also bought old Lincoln for one dollar and keeps stringing us along on Nettleton which he’s waiting for the right collection of grants and tax credits to buy.
The sad fact is that anyone who wants to buy Old Central will be obligated to keep it in good repair or let it deteriorate as we have been doing. No one can drastically alter it without jumping through hoops but they can let it crumble to pieces. The story in the Trib did a good job laying that out.
If its to be fixed either we, the school board must do it, or a buyer. The fixes amount to millions of dollars. A “for profit” developer would have to be very imaginative and take big risks to spend that kind of money on Old Central for the prospect of turning a very iffy profit. Needless to say, if we can’t find a buyer for New Central (who would have to spend up to 2 million to demolish that building) to acquire its many acres of surrounding land imagine how hard it would be to sell Old Central with a legal expectation that it be rehabbed for history’s sake at a cost of perhaps five or ten million dollars.
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