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#203, 8912-156 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5R 5Z2
April IVth, MMX
Hon. David G. Hancock, QC, MLA
Minister of Education,
Progressive Conservative, Edmonton-Whitemud
Dear David:
Its heartwrenching to say this. But as I had a close look at all of the facilities of the 6 Public Schools in the central district targeted for closure. The one school I would close now upon further analysis is Eastwood. Its rotting infrastructure was beyond terrible. Just looking at the gymnasium made me sick. The plaster peeling and cracking behind the paint. I walked up & down the halls and although a unique design with huge foyers, the building needs to be torn down.
Normally I do not say this about old buildings as I like their character, such as the Hudson's Bay Company Bvilding on Jasper Avenue. But as I scanned the hallways of all 6 schools, I could clearly see that Eastwood was very unstructurally sound. As was Spruce Avenue School. The costs of asbestos repair and maintaining it are just astronomical. To keep Spruce Avenue open as a Junior High in its current state of decay, even after repairs are made is unconscionable. If both schools could be torn down and a completely new school built on the Eastwood lot, I think that would be the better situation.
100% new schools in older areas instead of in suburbs would be a key selling point in keeping these old neighborhoods alive. Its sad to see old schools die. But building a modern building with the latest technologies and building standards has to be more economically sensible in the end. Some of the old architectural nuances of the schools could be incorporated into the new school. Say brick material exteriors as well as keeping the large foyer format. The gymnasium needs to be safer. Why should kids have to worry about tripping over uneven floors. So modernize & focus parents and students attentions inward, rather than towards suburbia.
Have A Glorious Easter Sunday,
Rory
Source: Architecural Digest Online.
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