After a 45-minute discussion this week, school officials have agreed to pursue three avenues regarding the former Montezuma-Cortez High School building.<\/p>\n
At a special workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 29, Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 board members authorized Superintendent Alex Carter to seek a design plan to safely demolish the former high school building, a facility study for potential building uses it it\u2019s not demolished, and options to place the structure on the real estate market.<\/p>\n
When applying for a grant and bond measure in 2012 to finance a new high school, Re-1 officials promised that the Seventh Street building would be demolished. That plan was shelved after officials learned that asbestos abatement costs ranged from $900,000 to $1.5 million. The district had budgeted $145,000 for demolition, according to Carter.<\/p>\n
Unsettled by the revelation, city officials asked school leaders to obtain bids to determine the actual costs of demolition. If estimates hold true, Re-1 officials have indicated the district wouldn\u2019t be able to demolish the structure.<\/p>\n
According to Carter, demolition bids should be received in November.<\/p>\n
Board member Sherri Wright demanded to know future maintenance and utility costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want the facts so we can make the best decision,\u201d Wright told board members on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
No upkeep estimates were provided Tuesday, but the district\u2019s 2012 BEST grant application reveals that future maintenance costs were projected at $60,000 annually.<\/p>\n
Also contained in the grant application, Re-1 officials noted the old high school building had roof-drainage issues, high fire-safety concerns, poor indoor air quality and an inadequate electrical system.<\/p>\n
At the time, officials estimated that renovating the building to alleviate health issues would cost up to 80 percent of the replacement value, or $36 million.<\/p>\n
Regarding demolition, the issue is asbestos contained in the walls of the 50-year-old, 142,000 square-foot structure.<\/p>\n
City officials are concerned about the potential for blight if the structure remains vacant. A pending memorandum of understanding between city and school officials guarantees the structure be demolished by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Tuesday, Carter reiterated that the building is safe, and that a number of parties had expressed an interest in utilizing the building for office space and art studios.<\/p>\n
Carter said he misspoke previously, restating that district attorneys had confirmed that the building could be sold with an \u201cas is\u201d asbestos clause in the contract.<\/p>\n
Re-1 controls several de-activated properties, notably the Calkins building and Lakeview elementary school.<\/p>\n
A new, 152,000-square-foot high school opened this fall. The project totaled nearly $41.4 million, which was funded by a $22.2 million Colorado Department of Education BEST grant and an $18.9 million local 20-year bond measure.<\/p>\n