Photo courtesy of Urban Ohio
Now that Rothenberg School will apparently be saved as a neighborhood school and community learning center, Over-the-Rhine residents and stakeholders are beginning to brainstorm on how to jumpstart the community engagement process.
A working group is being assembled that includes assistance from the Community Building Institute, with the goal of bringing together neighborhood and community council representatives, school staff, Rothenberg partners, parents and students to decide what types of programs should be offered in a renovated facility.
As a gauge of the community's reaction, the group is considering holding a "pep rally" to get people excited and informed about the project.
At a recent meeting, they also discussed:
* How the design process can be reconciled with the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) building "template"
* How to present information on the types of educational styles available and what would bring people back to the neighborhood school
* Whether or not surveys are a reliable way to gauge public opinion, given that many may be uninformed
The shift to a community-based facility will require residents and stakeholders to line up project partners to fund and implement the desired programs.
The working group and the resulting public meetings are a direct outgrowth the citizens' desire to save a neighborhood anchor.
The historic brick building at Main Street and Clifton Avenue (BIRD'S EYE) was originally scheduled for demolition and a rebuild, but CPS reconsidered after finding that the cost savings of such a move would be minimal.
The design process is scheduled to begin in April.
Renovation is expected to take about 18 months.
Previous reading on BC:
Peaslee to host meeting on Rothenberg (1/15/08)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Community brainstorms on Rothenberg engagement process
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3 comments:
Rothenburg is a great building, but the people who want to save it are not the people who have to use it. The neighborhood residents who use neighborhood schools are transient and poor. The neighborhood residents who like the building as a piece of architecture are middle class or better, well educated, and either don't have children at home or send their children to magnet or private schools. There is not now - there never has been any real relationship between those groups.
First, Radarman, you are incorrect. The individuals who will use this school will be the ENTIRE community, as it is being developed as a COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER - not just an 8am to 3pm school building.
Second, I do agree somewhat that many who fought VERY diligently to save Rothenburg are middle class, well educated, etc, but guess what - those same people are interested in providing the BEST school for our neighborhood children, not just saving a historic structure.
If you want to witness what $12 to $15 Mil can get you in new construction - take yourself to the new disasters of Heberle in the West End or many other new CPS buildings. Why not save this beautiful building, add to it to make it even better, and renovate it to its former glory.
All of this is being done with the entire community in mind - not just the rich, white people as you infer in your comments.
Radarman, I have to agree with dew. The whole idea behind bringing the Community Building Institute is to make sure everyone is included and informed.
It wasn't necessary for groups like the OTR Foundation, etc. to do this. They very easily could have forced their will upon the low-income residents if they wanted to.
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