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Commission offers outreach help as church considers reuse or sale of Blue School at 3848 E. 106th St.
Summary
Commissioners agreed to try outreach and possible site visits as church leaders consider options for the Blue School at 3848 East 106th Street; staff and commissioners said they would offer resources and walk-through assistance to explore reuse options.
Commission members said they will offer outreach and technical assistance after city staff reported limited engagement from church leadership about the future of the Blue School at 3848 East 106th Street. The property’s owner — a local church — circulated a Google form seeking community feedback, staff said, and commissioners discussed ways the commission might help identify reuse or funding options to keep the historic school building in use.
Mark (staff) said he had tried to invite church leadership to the meeting but that communication has been limited. "I just get the sense he's been reluctant to engage," one commissioner summarized after describing outreach to the priest and a small committee that is reviewing options.
Commissioners suggested practical steps: arrange a walk-through for commissioners and staff, help the church identify consultants for National Register listing and tax-credit work, and explore facade-grant and other local funding options if reuse appears viable. Barry and others volunteered to participate in outreach and offer connections to contractors, preservation consultants and commercial realtors who might identify leasing or adaptive-reuse partners.
No formal motion or funding was approved; the discussion resulted in an agreement to coordinate outreach. Staff said they would try to identify the church committee and offer a coordinated site visit if the owners are willing.
Why this matters: The Blue School is an intact example of a one-room schoolhouse type building that has potential for reuse; preserving it could allow access to grants or tax credits, and the commission flagged it as a candidate for active assistance to explore options before a demolition decision would be considered.
Speakers: Mark (staff), Matt (commission liaison), Commissioners Barry and Kelly and others who offered to help with outreach and walk-throughs.
Discussion vs. decision: The item was discussion-oriented and resulted in direction to staff and interested commissioners to pursue outreach; no formal directive to spend commission funds was adopted.
