Rise Above Ventures President Ron Thomas (at podium) speaks to the Wyandotte City Council June 26 about the proposed redevelopment of McKinley School, as Joe Gruber (left), executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, listens.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – The City Council approved Rise Above Venture’s plan to convert the former McKinley School into market-rate condominiums, with single-family, owner-occupied homes on the site while retaining a playground and park.
Ron Thomas, president of RAV, and Joe Gruber, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, answered councilmembers’ questions at the June 26 council meeting.
The developer will renovate the adjacent park and playground space, which will be retained by the city and remain open to public use.
The developer will seek a Revitalization and Placemaking Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to successfully complete the project.
The city is transferring the ownership of the property to Rise Above Ventures via a quit claim deed, while at the same time executing a buy-back purchase agreement with the developer, which will allow the property to return to city ownership if the RAP grant application is unsuccessful, or, if by Dec. 20, work on the project has not begun.
If the developer receives a RAP grant, either $100,000 will be set aside for a Recreation Commission playground construction fund, or RAV will design and build a playground space as approved by the commission.
Rise Above Ventures will redevelop the former McKinley School site into market rate condominiums, with adjacent new owner-occupied single-family homes while retaining a neighborhood playground and park space.
McKinley School has been vacant for 15 years, and the former playground has been utilized as a park by the surrounding neighborhood. Area residents have been vocal in their objections to earlier projects that they felt were not consistent with the quality of life for the surrounding neighborhood.
The alternative, tearing down the former school, would incur a significant cost to the city.
Thomas said he attended McKinley School as a child.
He said the cost to convert the building is higher than its potential value at completion, so a RAP grant is a crucial component to bridging the gap.
Rise Above Venture’s proposal would include approximately 30 condos, with common area amenities and parking on the north side of the building in the existing lot and a newly paved area.
The existing school gymnasium would be converted to a common area for the condo residents.
No fewer that five new single-family homes will be constructed along the 7th Street side of the property.
To the extent practical, the existing architecture of the school will be preserved, with new windows installed, and with exterior patios or balconies added where possible.