Partners working to preserve and rehabilitate the old First Ward School will be holding a public meeting for all interested parties at the Jennings Randolph School on South Gate Road in south Elkins.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. today. Representatives from Citizens for Historical Opportunity, Preservation and Education in Randolph County; A.U. Associates; Highland Community Builders; and the Randolph County Housing Authority will present the plans for the property and answer questions.
The adaptive reuse of the First Ward School will involve transforming the school into 16 affordable senior housing apartments for those 55 and older. The exterior facade will be preserved and restored to as close to its original condition as possible, including the replacement of the front porch that was removed decades ago to make access more feasible. Period-appropriate landscaping and residential lighting will be installed. Parking will be created within the property boundaries so as to not add to the burden of on-street parking.
C-HOPE purchased the First Ward School from the Randolph County Board of Education in spring 2009.
Randolph County Housing Authority will provide property management. RCHA has been providing affordable housing solutions to Randolph and surrounding counties for more than 30 years.
A.U. Associates has focused on opportunities for urban infill, as well as the revitalization of existing structures. A.U. Associates has been instrumental in creating more than 500 units of housing and securing over $70 million in financing.
The project is anticipated to break ground this spring and be open in spring 2013.
More information is available at www.c-hopewv.org or 304-636-6182; www.auassociates.com or 859-233-2009; or kjacobson@rchawv.org.
