Ross column: What's next for Immaculate Conception School? Let's seek a better solution

To the best of my recollection there are three abandoned school buildings in Allegany County.

Maybe abandoned isn't quite an accurate word for the state of these buildings, but it is pretty close to reality.

As a kid I had a vague memory of the Allentown school being active, but I believe it has been closed since the '60s when it consolidated with Scio Central School. Of course, I remember well the Angelica and Belmont school merger and the resulting abandonment of those school buildings. I remember attending events at both buildings.

I was always impressed with the auditorium at the Belmont school. I found it to be of a good size, open and welcoming. The gymnasium at the Angelica school was big and spacious. All three of these buildings were in fair shape when they were closed.

As was my thought then and is now, I wondered why the buildings weren’t put into immediate use for housing, or as a community building? Why these clean, well-lighted, heated and roomy structures were not put to use is beyond me.

I know in the cases of the Angelica and Belmont school buildings there were and possibly still are ongoing efforts by concerned citizens organizations and entrepreneurs to renovate and repurpose the buildings, but they never got very far.

These aren’t just any old factory, commercial or warehouse buildings. Over their lifetimes communities have put significant investment into these buildings. While they were in use there were continuous building and renovation projects paid for with public money and supported by school taxes.

Not only is there a financial investment, but there is also a sentimental investment. Thousands of students tread the halls, lingered by the lockers, bounced the ball on the gymnasium’s hardwood floors and made memories they remember for their entire lives. They don't want to see them go to ruin.

At the very least a school district should be required to come up with a use of a building before it is vacated or abandoned. There is too much local investment to see a beloved structure deteriorate.

In Wellsville they revamped both the old Martin Street building and the Washington school on Hanover Street. The complaints are about the dismantling of the Brooklyn school are still sometimes heard, but as a doctor's office and as a fire hall, both the Martin Street school and the Washington school are viable attributes to the community. Hornell's former Bryant Elementary School scarcely sat empty at all before it was turned into 39 affordable apartments.

But what purpose do the old Allentown, Angelica and Belmont school buildings serve?

More: 'This is not just a building': Church, Wellsville community ponder new uses for ICS

Wednesday night the public was invited to view the Immaculate Conception School in Wellsville. The school closed over the summer due to declining enrollment. The meeting focused on the future of the school's 125-year-old building and asked for ideas from the public as to what should be done with it. The building is a brick structure which sits just two blocks from Main Street in a very active part of the village.

There were suggestions of housing for homeless, elderly and low-income residents, or use as a community building.

If you look at other communities that have repurposed abandoned buildings, you'll read about art centers and boutiques, housing, and athletic centers. Each of the repurposing projects involved considerable funds, time, and effort. Right now, the Immaculate Conception School is sound. It has been heated and maintained for the last several months, so it is prime for renovation, prime for innovation.

Could it be turned into a school for the arts? Would Alfred University, like Alfred State College in the 60s, be interested in bringing programming to Wellsville?

In Dansville, a former school became a satellite of Genesee Community College, while Jamestown Community College has made a significant investment in Olean. Would Corning Community College be interested in opening a satellite in Wellsville? The county already contributes to the state's Community College program.

Perhaps the easiest plan would be to turn the building into a series of low income, efficiency apartments with a communal dining area, lounge area, and gym, but maybe there is a better solution for the building and the community.

-- Kathryn Ross writes a weekly column.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Ross: Let's find a better solution for Wellsville's empty ICS school