Arlington School (Bessemer): Difference between revisions
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The '''Arlington School''' was the first high school for the city of [[Bessemer]]. The 3-story brick and limestone Classical revival-style was constructed in [[1908]]. It was later converted into an elementary school before it closed in | The '''Arlington School''' was the first high school for the city of [[Bessemer]]. The 3-story brick and limestone Classical revival-style was constructed in [[1908]]. It was later converted into an elementary school before it closed in [[1986]]. | ||
The school features a jewel-box theater with a raked floor and horseshoe balcony. The basketball gym is lit by skylights. | The school features a jewel-box theater with a raked floor and horseshoe balcony. The basketball gym is lit by skylights. | ||
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Various groups have proposed an adaptive re-use for the structure, including the [[Rainbow Community Development Corporation]] which was working with [[Sloss Real Estate]] to attempt to redevelop the building in [[2004]]. That plan never came to fruition and Sloss returned its conditional title to the board. More recently [[B3]] ([[Bring Bessemer Back]]) has submitted a $1.8 million redevelopment plan to the board which would convert the school into offices for non-profit groups and re-use the auditorium for community functions. | Various groups have proposed an adaptive re-use for the structure, including the [[Rainbow Community Development Corporation]] which was working with [[Sloss Real Estate]] to attempt to redevelop the building in [[2004]]. That plan never came to fruition and Sloss returned its conditional title to the board. More recently [[B3]] ([[Bring Bessemer Back]]) has submitted a $1.8 million redevelopment plan to the board which would convert the school into offices for non-profit groups and re-use the auditorium for community functions. | ||
On [[January 15]], [[2008]] the [[Bessemer School Board]] declared the school building to be "surplus", opening the door for it to be sold. | On [[January 15]], [[2008]] the [[Bessemer School Board]] declared the school building to be "surplus", opening the door for it to be sold. In August [[2008]] inspectors for the City of Bessemer deemed the structure unsafe, meaning that the board must bring it up to current code before it can be sold or reused. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Nance, Rahkia (January 16, 2008) "Arlington school declared surplus." ''Birmingham News'' | * Nance, Rahkia (January 16, 2008) "Arlington school declared surplus." ''Birmingham News'' | ||
* Nance, Rahkia (August 20, 2008) "Bessemer city inspectors condemn historic Arlington School building." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
[[Category:1908 buildings]] | [[Category:1908 buildings]] | ||
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[[Category:Bessemer schools]] | [[Category:Bessemer schools]] | ||
[[Category:Vacant buildings]] | [[Category:Vacant buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Threatened structures]] | |||
Revision as of 14:19, 20 August 2008
The Arlington School was the first high school for the city of Bessemer. The 3-story brick and limestone Classical revival-style was constructed in 1908. It was later converted into an elementary school before it closed in 1986.
The school features a jewel-box theater with a raked floor and horseshoe balcony. The basketball gym is lit by skylights.
The vacant building was listed as one of the Alabama Historical Commission's "Places in Peril" for 2003.
Various groups have proposed an adaptive re-use for the structure, including the Rainbow Community Development Corporation which was working with Sloss Real Estate to attempt to redevelop the building in 2004. That plan never came to fruition and Sloss returned its conditional title to the board. More recently B3 (Bring Bessemer Back) has submitted a $1.8 million redevelopment plan to the board which would convert the school into offices for non-profit groups and re-use the auditorium for community functions.
On January 15, 2008 the Bessemer School Board declared the school building to be "surplus", opening the door for it to be sold. In August 2008 inspectors for the City of Bessemer deemed the structure unsafe, meaning that the board must bring it up to current code before it can be sold or reused.
References
- Nance, Rahkia (January 16, 2008) "Arlington school declared surplus." Birmingham News
- Nance, Rahkia (August 20, 2008) "Bessemer city inspectors condemn historic Arlington School building." Birmingham News