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District will raze Emerson

By CHRIS RANDAZZO
of The Gazette
The Emerson school building will soon be no more as the Stevens Point Area Public School District Board voted, 6-0, to have the building razed when it met Monday, Dec. 17.

Board members Barb Ruesch and Diana McGinley did not vote because they were uncertain if the legal notice for the meeting allowed them to take action that night, since its language read disposition of Emerson school building and did not specifically mention taking action.

Until recently Emerson had been the home of the Alternative High School, but deteriorating conditions in the building, particularly the roof, made it unsafe for use and in October the board ordered the building closed. The Alternative School is currently housed in the Professional Building in downtown Stevens Point.

The board directed school administration to begin specifications to raze the structure, with an anticipated demolition date of March 1, 2002. However, the board did leave some leeway by passing a second motion stating that if an area group could present the board with a business plan for another use for the building that would benefit the community, and the funds to follow through on that plan, it would reconsider the razing.

That motion may have come about because of the pleas of many area residents to save the building at a public hearing before the School Board meeting.

"Emerson has touched the lives of many generations of area residents," said architect Tom Brown, who previously did a study on Emerson for the district. "It isn't the highest and best example of architecture in the area, but it is one of the last."

Many residents spoke of the historical significance of Emerson and brought up the destruction of other older buildings over the years, such as the old post office, old library, Masonic Temple and Jefferson school. "It would be a tragedy to tear down another building. We've lost too many," said Maxine Hogan.

Board member Mike O'Meara said that he thought it would be illegal under state statutes for the board to save the building because of its historic significance. "I think we are precluded from doing any renovation of that building for any purpose other than public education."

Many residents who spoke at the public hearing asked the board for time, between six months and a year, to try and find another use for the building. "My concern is that we need to take time in finding out what the community wants," said Amy Heart, a Stevens Point resident who lives near Emerson.

However, others pointed out that the public has already had that chance. Michelle Bjella, a member of the citizen-based Facilities Advisory Committee, said that the issue had already been on the table for nearly a year.

The Facilities Advisory Committee is a group organized by the board to garner resident input on the buildings in the school district. The committee recently completed its report to the district and suggested razing Emerson.

"The board has already done its share of listening to the people," said Judy Pflugardt. She also said she and her husband both attended Emerson 30 years ago and that there were parts of the building that were unsafe then.

Because of its condition School Superintendent Emery Babcock said that the district is unable to get insurance of any kind on the building.

Bill Palmer, assistant superintendent business, said the district recently received a letter from John Gardner, director of planning and community development for Stevens Point, saying the board must fix or demolish the building soon because of its lack of insurance.

For most board members the decision on Emerson came down to dollars. "This is a competitive situation, dollars for textbooks versus dollars for Emerson," said McGinley.

An August 2000 report by Lampert Lee and Associates said it would cost $360,000 just to make the building safe for habitation. Earlier reports estimated $3 million for a complete renovation of the school.

And, while many residents suggested there were many groups that may be interested in using the structure, Thurmaier said that wasn't the case. She said she had talked to the people at the Noel Group who are interested in starting a Boys and Girls Club in the area and that they had no interest in the building. She said that was also the case with Gerry McKenna, chair of the Arts Board.

Palmer said that the district had offered to sell the building to the city a number of times for $1 and it wasn't interested.

Conversely, O'Meara said the city has been receptive to the idea of using the property Emerson is on as a park. He said that the City's Park Plan says there is a lack of park space in that area. "The play area (on the Emerson grounds) is essential to that neighborhood. Instead of a historic building, we have a historic opportunity to fill a need."

O'Meara said that the district would like to give the property to the city with the caveat that the city build a park there. He said that the park would not only provide green space for area residents but also for the students at Jefferson school because of the lack of play area at Jefferson.



	District will raze Emerson By CHRIS RANDAZZO of The Gazette The Emerson school building will soon be no more as the Stevens Point Area Public School District Board voted, 6-0, to have the building razed when it met Monday, Dec. 17. Board members Barb Ruesch and Diana McGinley did not vote because they were uncertain if the legal notice for the meeting allowed them to take action that night, since its language read disposition of Emerson school building and did not specifically mention taking action. Until recently Emerson had been the home of the Alternative High School, but deteriorating conditions in the building, particularly the roof, made it unsafe for use and in October the board ordered the building closed. The Alternative School is currently housed in the Professional Building in downtown Stevens Point. The board directed school administration to begin specifications to raze the structure, with an anticipated demolition date of March 1, 2002. However, the board did leave some leeway by passing a second motion stating that if an area group could present the board with a business plan for another use for the building that would benefit the community, and the funds to follow through on that plan, it would reconsider the razing. That motion may have come about because of the pleas of many area residents to save the building at a public hearing before the School Board meeting. "Emerson has touched the lives of many generations of area residents," said architect Tom Brown, who previously did a study on Emerson for the district. "It isn't the highest and best example of architecture in the area, but it is one of the last." Many residents spoke of the historical significance of Emerson and brought up the destruction of other older buildings over the years, such as the old post office, old library, Masonic Temple and Jefferson school. "It would be a tragedy to tear down another building. We've lost too many," said Maxine Hogan. Board member Mike O'Meara said that he thought it would be illegal under state statutes for the board to save the building because of its historic significance. "I think we are precluded from doing any renovation of that building for any purpose other than public education." Many residents who spoke at the public hearing asked the board for time, between six months and a year, to try and find another use for the building. "My concern is that we need to take time in finding out what the community wants," said Amy Heart, a Stevens Point resident who lives near Emerson. However, others pointed out that the public has already had that chance. Michelle Bjella, a member of the citizen-based Facilities Advisory Committee, said that the issue had already been on the table for nearly a year. The Facilities Advisory Committee is a group organized by the board to garner resident input on the buildings in the school district. The committee recently completed its report to the district and suggested razing Emerson. "The board has already done its share of listening to the people," said Judy Pflugardt. She also said she and her husband both attended Emerson 30 years ago and that there were parts of the building that were unsafe then. Because of its condition School Superintendent Emery Babcock said that the district is unable to get insurance of any kind on the building. Bill Palmer, assistant superintendent business, said the district recently received a letter from John Gardner, director of planning and community development for Stevens Point, saying the board must fix or demolish the building soon because of its lack of insurance. For most board members the decision on Emerson came down to dollars. "This is a competitive situation, dollars for textbooks versus dollars for Emerson," said McGinley. An August 2000 report by Lampert Lee and Associates said it would cost $360,000 just to make the building safe for habitation. Earlier reports estimated $3 million for a complete renovation of the school. And, while many residents suggested there were many groups that may be interested in using the structure, Thurmaier said that wasn't the case. She said she had talked to the people at the Noel Group who are interested in starting a Boys and Girls Club in the area and that they had no interest in the building. She said that was also the case with Gerry McKenna, chair of the Arts Board. Palmer said that the district had offered to sell the building to the city a number of times for $1 and it wasn't interested. Conversely, O'Meara said the city has been receptive to the idea of using the property Emerson is on as a park. He said that the City's Park Plan says there is a lack of park space in that area. "The play area (on the Emerson grounds) is essential to that neighborhood. Instead of a historic building, we have a historic opportunity to fill a need." O'Meara said that the district would like to give the property to the city with the caveat that the city build a park there. He said that the park would not only provide green space for area residents but also for the students at Jefferson school because of the lack of play area at Jefferson.