Pittsburgh, PA – The PIT Public School Board decided on Wednesday to sell the former Schenley H.S. in Oakland. The decision got a 5-4 vote. The board then voted for seeking bids to renovate the old building, which was closed down in year 2008. According to Mark Roosevelt, the former superintendent of the high school, it could cost around $76.2 M for the school board to renovate the building. The building was constructed in year 1916. Theresa Colaizzi, Bill Isler, Jean Fink, Sherry Hazuda and Floyd McCrea were the members who voted in favor of the decision. Mark Brentley, Thomas Sumpter, Sharene Shealey and Regina Holley voted against it. Most importantly, Brentley raised questions on the actual conditions under which the historic building was shut down, pointing out scare tactics were used over the issue of asbestos. He demanded an investigation into the issue. Holley said that she believes students at PIT Milliones 6-12, located in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District area, and PIT Obama 6-12, located in East Liberty, could use the building – especially its swimming pool and gym. Colaizzi argued that the structure was harmful and costs money to the district. “We cannot hold onto the building forever as we cannot afford it financially,” she said. Last fall, the board had rejected a US$2 M bid submitted by Philadelphia-based PMC Property that planned to use $35 M for transforming the building into apartments. A minimum $4 million bid had been sought by the district, which will seek that again. The board also considered voting to put the high school back in market, but postponed the decision. During the last summer, the possibly adaptable reuses of the structure were examined by a study. Ro Pfaffmann, a community planner and architect in the study, said the general agreement was that there was a chance for doing something really innovative there. “It is indeed a great structure, which has got good bones. It is structurally sound as well. Yes, there is asbestos in the building. Asbestos problems are definitely important, but not insurmountable,” he said. According to the study, the bottom floors of the building could be used for education. For instance, it could be used as a lifelong learning facility for adults. The auditorium may potentially be a nonprofits’ space. And the pool and the gym could be utilized by residents after developing as health club or torn down for extra parking, the study suggested.
