East School, a 1920 brick icon to generations of Springfield kids from the east side of town, is on the market, finally.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130219/NEWS02/702199859/0/OPINION01
East School, a 1920 brick icon to generations of Springfield kids from the east side of town, is on the market, finally.
Several years after townspeople voted to put the aging school up for sale, the Springfield School Board has listed the school with Select Board member David Yesman, a real estate agent with Century 21 Energy Shield Realty of Lebanon, N.H.
The asking price is $150,000, for the large, two-story, 12,300 square foot building, along with 2 1/2 acres of land on Summer Street.
“It’s a nice location,” said Yesman, who said he got the exclusive listing from the Springfield School Board by simply asking for it. He said his involvement was not a conflict of interest, despite being a Springfield elected official.
He said East School would be listed with the multiple-listing service, which would give the property wide exposure. The official listing describes the school as a “substantial structure” and that it is being sold in “as is” condition.
Yesman said the market for large school buildings in need of repair was pretty stagnant, and he pointed to two schools for sale in the Rutland region, which haven’t sold despite being on the market for more than a year. The former Dana School was put on the market in 2012 for $209,500, Yesman said.
Scott Adnams, chairman of the Springfield School Board, said the board came up with the price for the school with an independent appraisal, and the board discussed it also with Yesman.
“Our ultimate goal is to sell the building,” said Adnams, who said that the School Board thought it had someone in line to buy the building last spring, but “it fell through.”
The school, which hasn’t been used for elementary students for a number of years, most recently housed the Gateway Program for the school district. Gateway students now used the Nolin-Murray Center, owned by St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Springfield.
Yesman said the building, which is zoned medium density residential, could be converted to apartments, a day care center or even storage. “It could be offices too,” said Yesman, refusing to guess how much money would be needed to convert the building. “A lot of money,” would be needed, is all he would say.
“It’s a nice location,” said Yesman last week, giving a reporter and photographer a tour of the building, which still bears murals and art work from students. There’s even a little graffiti: “Middle school is worse than Meatloaf.”
Down in the basement are the remnants of a small school cafeteria, along with the two 1986 boilers that heat the building from a 10,000-gallon oil tank. On the two floors above, a central hall bisects the building, with large classrooms, some still sporting old green chalkboards, flanking both sides of the hall. There are smaller rooms that were used for offices by the principal, school nurse, or teachers, Yesman said.
One of the first things Yesman said that needed attention are the windows, which need new, energy efficient double pane windows.
East School, home away from home for generations of Springfield students, up for sale
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer | February 19,2013
Rutland Herald
SPRINGFIELD —
This would make a lovely half-way house for paroled prisoners with drug addictions. Perhaps we could have a group seek a special appropriation to help these individuals and set up a not for profit rehabilitation agency inside part of the building.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious, or was this said in jest?
DeleteWhy would you think I was saying that in jest? Do you have a better idea Aethelred? What kind of name is that anyway?
DeleteYeah Aethelred why would you suppose that Lanyard had a sense of humor? You find something funny about taxpayers demanding that we sell school buildings whose alternative use is most probably for subsidized housing? If we are going to go on a subsidized housing facilitation spree, we might as well go for broke with the parolees. Plus have some nice comfy office space there for the HCRS staffers to hang out and hold there conferences and such. Might even put a psychiatrist office in right there and a little pharmacy. Would make a lot of sense and surely would improve that little neighborhood that lost its center when they closed the school, give it a new iconic legacy it would.
DeleteNo, no, if you made a place like this a half-way house how would the slum lords make a profit. No, its important to allow this building to slowly crumble into ruins. It will extend the ambience to this part of Springfield which has not had the benefit of the wonderful ambience presented by vacant buildings.
ReplyDeleteOf course you wouldn't want it to be a halfway house. Is a little too close to your "house" huh? Heck you could drop em off on the way home from working at the prison!
DeleteHm, I wonder how they came up with that price. If it was based on an appraisal, I wonder what the highest and best use was?
DeleteWhy shouldn't there be a half-way house there? I thought that was what the taxpayers wanted when they called for these buildings to be sold?
DeleteWell now Lanyard Lansing, maybe you have a point. If we just convert all these vacant school and industrial buildings into halfway houses we might be able to give the employment a little boost in this here town. Kind of reinvent the Town as a transition Mecca pretty much overseen by HCRS. Yeah, that has a nice resonance to it. Especially since HCRS doesn't prescribe drugs, that should clean up the drug problem completely, and eliminate the gangs. I wonder why HCRS didn't come up with that plan in the first place. Why could have solved a lot of headscratching by all those folks as to what to do with these buildings that the schools and the private industry discard like styrofoam cups and such. Have you considered running for the Selectboard, I think you would find yourself at home with their kind of thinking.
DeleteWuld be persuble to hab it to bee a shulter fer us wimen of priseners with childen to leve at, difficilt ter fiend plaz to leve wid the lundlerds checkin er backgrinds an sich any mure.
ReplyDeleteNow there is a thought, at least I think its a thought.
DeleteIs there any plan for this school? Or was it just dumped on the market for anyone to bid on?
ReplyDeleteDear Mister 7:44,
ReplyDeletePerhaps you missed the vote many years ago. In essence: "Shall the voters allow the school board to sell to dispose the property"? Yes. fast forward three years and viola!!!! on the market for sale. Wanna buy a prime piece of real estate?
Bet of you offered 75k for it, you would be the proud owner of it.
Well, I guess Yesman offered a dollar for it. Doesn't he own property on Union Street? This would fit in nicely with his portfolio I guess.
DeleteYesman gets an exclusive listing and denies it's a conflict of interest. Please vote this self-serving jackwad off the board at the earliest opportunity. What is it with those who serve today? They eagerly feather their own nests and then deny that there's anything wrong with it.
ReplyDeleteExclusive listing on East School?
DeleteI agree. It does seem like a conflict of interest.
DeleteWhat? You're going to wait for it to crumble? For thieves to steal the copper? Any real estate agent could have stepped forward. Dave Yesman is a realist and I'll vote for him again.
DeleteWere other real estate agents offered the property? I agree the could have stepped forward, but were they given the chance?
DeleteThe town has been speaking about selling for years. It's no secret. It's called capitalism. Step forward and do business. Have you ever known a real estate not to jump on a property? It's in their DNA
DeleteConflict of interest? Don't understand does he run half-way houses?
DeleteYesman didn't have to step forward. Not only was he already on hand when it was brought up for discussion due to his official position, but he was also likely involved in all the preliminary preparations to put it on the docket. The "exclusive" listing will give him a piece of any sale. Just another vulture pecking at Springfield's bones from his official perch.
DeleteDoes anyone know who owns the house on Union St that we, as taxpayers, are being asked to pay $239,000 for- so the teachers can have a place to park? Where have they parked all these years? Why is the East St school and 2 1/2 acres being sold for $150,000 and the house on Union St for $239,000? Something just doesn't seem right??? I think the town has 2 chances of having that amount approved...slim and none.
ReplyDeleteHey Kate, you should really be better informed.
DeleteThe district is purchasing the the house for $94,000. The $239,000 is the total cost of the property and creation of additional parking. The house does not cost $239,000, that is the cost of the entire project.
It is a shame that the responsibility of cleaning up suspected drug dens and neglected property falls on the shoulders of the school district, but as far as I am concerned whatever it takes to get this house demolished, the town and school system is better off with that house gone. Now, what can be done about the two dilapidated properties across the street.
I think with uninformed residents like Kate, this town has two chances of ever improving...slim and none.
With the sale of East School and the purchase of the house on Union Street there is a possibility of a two prong attack on drug dens in Springfield. The first prong being eliminating one of the drug dens on Union Street, and the other relocating the drug dens to a new location supervised by HCRS.
DeleteI love it when the teachers jump on here take a defensive role. What other drug dens will the school district be cleaning up? Wall Street? Valley Street? My guess is just the one that is needed at Union Street. Don't break your elbow patting yourself on the back just yet.
DeleteI suggest they cleanup any drug den abutting any school property, the town government hasn't had any luck.
DeleteKate, the ownership of the house on Union is public information. The town office can tell you.
DeleteAnonymous 12:46, HCRS does not prescribe drugs.
DeleteWho DOES own that building? I would venture out on a limb and say David Yesman or someone else on the boad has their hands in it.
DeleteBoard....sorry.......I was shaking my head at the same time I was proof reading this
DeleteIsn't Yesman on the Selectboard, and this is the School Board that is proposing to buy the house? Having trouble following the logic of this thread.
DeleteIn reply to Alpin @ 12:40 HCRS psychiatrists do indeed prescribe drugs.
DeleteGosh, we just need to tear it down.
DeleteNo, HCRS doesn't prescribe drugs. Whatever are you thinking.
DeleteAlpin Jack, you corporate shill -- HCRS is the doorkeeper to the psychiatrists who prescribe the drugs -- what rock have you been living under?
DeleteConfucius say HCRS don't prescribe pills and shots, psychiatrists do...or as they say guns don't kill people...or is it if it quacks like a duck its a squirrel...hm must go check my med plan...oh yes as Confucius was saying about flying pigs...
DeleteHow can you dare to criticize HCRS, shame on you. It provides meaningful employment for so many in the Springfield area, and it is employment which is invulnerable to economic downturn as it perpetuates and expands its need. Why what would we be without its wonderful assistance in the realm of ex-prisoner assistance and aid rendered for remuneration with the Department of Corrections. Why the enormous good which it does this community is beyond being assailed. It has developed a revolving door market with our correctional facilities that is simply beyond our wildest capitalist dreams.
DeleteWhy are you attacking HCRS on this thread?
DeleteIs HCRS the not-for-profit that is dominant in getting contracts from the Department of Corrections for rehabilitation of ex-prisoners with substance abuse problems? Or is that some other group?
DeleteLanyard Lansing, yes HCRS is the dominant entity regarding that field.
DeleteAnd a mighty fine job that HCRS does, why it has done such a fine job in that field that its clientele is just exploding. They have been bringing in employment and servicing this community with pure excellence. Why you never hear a single complaint about how they are rehabilitating our fine citizens who went temporarily off the rails. Its a testament to ingenuity how they have expanded their market and provided more and more employment opportunities to so many. Why what was it that Churchill said never has so little been done by so many...no wait that isn't quite right. MARTHA WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY MED PLAN...
Delete"Anonymous"12:41
ReplyDelete$94,000 or $239,000 still doesn't answer my initial questions. Who owns the property and where have the teachers been parking all these years? In response to your statement, "the responsibility of cleaning up suspected drug dens....falls on the shoulders of the school district" . You ARE kidding, right? Too quote you , Hey,"ANONYMOUS" you should really be better informed!
And thank you BLOG POLICE 12:51 for pointing out the other places in town and probably right under Amonymous 12:41's nose where the school district could start. If they can't even walk from their cars to their place of employment without whining...how are they going to chase down the criminal element?
"kate" is that your "real" name, I have my doubts.
DeleteKate, read this a couple times trying to make sense of it. Obviously, the school system is trying to clean up part of the drug den problem on Union Street by buying the property. The parking lot is simply one way of doing it. Unfortunately, the Town Government is the body which should be condemning and cleaning up these drug sanctuaries, and they will need to tackle the house directly across the street. But the school is trying to do its part in reducing, at least to some extent, the drug slums directly across the street from their active schools. They don't have a school on Wall Street and Valley Street, so relying on the school system to participate in the clean-up of those drug nests cannot legitimately be shouldered by them.
DeleteKate, the school was re-built, remember? Parking completely changed when they did the rebuild eliminating places to park. C'mon go back in the memory bank and think before typing!
DeleteKate are you trying to sound like you are totally clueless, or does it just come natural. Why would we expect teachers to run down criminals? And what does the existence of drug dens elsewhere in Town have to do with drug dens immediately in front of a school. Do you shoot and aim later?
DeleteWhat criminal element?
DeleteOh its that nasty epithet that they throw around in derogation of the fine upstanding capitalist entrepeneurs we have in this Town who peddle their wares on Union and Wall Street.
DeleteEast School would make a wonderful fire fighting training facility. They could practice various types of rescues and fire control solutions. After they eventually they burn it to the ground, probably occurring during the first response, they could focus on Park Street next.
ReplyDeleteAhh yes, another know it all heard from, no mention of the last 3 fires that were not losses, and actually pretty damn good stops. But those aren't newsworthy so no one hears about them. Hey, did't I see your application for onlooker?
DeleteThe SFD is a joke. Except during parades!!!
DeleteSounds like you couldn't make the cut
Delete8:29,let me guess,if the fire department is such a joke,i bet you won't call them if your house is ever on fire or you need a ambulance
DeleteAnonymous 1:38pm
ReplyDeleteKate is my real, honest to goodness, from birth, always was-always will be name.
I choose not to address problems as Anonymous. It just seems like the cowards way out.
Fine, my name is Frank, from this point forward you will know me as Frank, that way, I wont be anonymous.
DeleteGlad we got that all straightened out and have enlightened everyone, my name ain't Boss that's just what everyone calls me, beats bein called a Hogg all the time.
Deletehahah so you use your first name, one of the more common first names at that... hilarious!
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't remember when the school was rebuilt. Not everyone has lived in Springfield their whole life.
ReplyDeleteKate, the school was rebuilt just a few years ago, minimal inquiry would have clued you in to the fact that the Town had a raging debate over decades about upgrading the elementary school facilities, and just a few years ago that resulted in the expansion and redesign of Union and Elm Hill.
Delete