Workers to begin tearing down former Hudson Elementary building in February

by Tim Troglen, Reporter (E-mail: ttroglen@recordpub.com, Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3146)

Hudson -- It's going to get a bit noisy around 34 N. Oviatt St. next month.That's when demolition of the 28,164-square-foot former Hudson Elementary School building is scheduled to begin.Demolition will begin in mid-February and end approximately mid-March, said Communications Manager Sheryl Sheatzley.The Hudson Board of Education on Jan. 25 awarded a contract to Bob Bennett Construction of Barberton for the work. According to the legislation, the contract is "not to exceed $115,000.Business Manager Derek Cluse said the construction company was the "lowest and best" of 24 bids. Sheatzley said stone plaques and some of the building's bricks will be saved for possible future use. In addition, some architectural features will be salvaged from the exterior of the building for future use elsewhere on school property."Other salvageable materials will be removed by the demolition company as part of the agreement to help reduce the cost of taking the building down," she added.The property will have a safety fence around the area while demolition occurs, Sheatzley said. Debris and materials will be removed from the property, not buried.The district will invite the community to stop by the property Feb. 6 and 7, before the safety fence is installed, to walk the grounds and take exterior photos.The Board, acting on a recommendation by Superintendent Steve Farnsworth, voted Nov. 5 to tear down the building and maintain "the property as green space until such time as the Board is in a position to utilize the property."Several recommendations by community members and organizations were made prior to the vote.Farnsworth said he and a volunteer task force, formed to help make a recommendation, looked at several proposals and investigated potential uses.Farnsworth said the group decided "the financial benefits that would accrue to the school district from accepting any of the submitted proposals would not be sufficient to offset the loss of such a prime piece of real estate."He said renovation of the building would cost close to $4 million, and keeping the building until another use is found could cost $60,000 annually. The property's value is estimated at $1.13 million. None of the proposals offered more than $400,000 plus future tax benefits for the city and schools.Three proposals had been presented to the School Board. One proposal called for a park, one called for 10 homes and a small park, and one called for the building to be turned into condominiums and six other homes built on the property.The district will restore the 2.1 acres to grass and maintain the playground equipment. In the spring, possible additional natural enhancements to the property will take place if affordable, Sheatzley said. Residents' input will be solicited at that time.Board President Joy York said that some residents had asked why the former school was not reopened and used as space for the all-day kindergarten state mandate."Hudson Elementary is not in a condition to be used," she said. "To bring it up to code would cost $3 million to $4 million."Hudson Elementary was built in 1916 and remained in use as a classroom building until it was retired in June 2007.