Roosevelt High reuse proposals due Nov. 2
Groups interested in acquiring historic Gary Roosevelt High School and its 18-acre campus have until Nov. 2 to submit detailed information to the Gary Community School Corp.
The district released a “request for interest” for the revitalization and reuse of Roosevelt on Tuesday.
The school, at 730 W. 25th Ave., closed in February 2019 after burst pipe and heating problems at the aging building. Officials estimated repairs could cost $10 million or more. Students were relocated to another school and Roosevelt never reopened.
Opened in 1931 during a period of forced segregation, Roosevelt was built to house a growing Black enrollment after an integration attempt at Emerson High resulted in a strike by white students.
On Sept. 19, Indiana Landmarks and Roosevelt alumni placed a historic marker in front of the school. It was listed on the Register of Historic Places in 2012.
“Roosevelt means a great deal to the Gary community and its alumni,” said Eric Parish of Gary Schools Recovery, a subsidiary of MGT Consulting, which manages the school district under a state contract.
“We are eager to find an entity that can offer a viable plan that clearly preserves the school’s extraordinary legacy. We welcome expressions of interest from experienced developers, architects, community stakeholders, and interested parties who can offer potential inventive uses for this landmark,” said Parish.
The district hopes to attract foundations, philanthropic organizations, museums, arts, cultural groups, developers, architects, brokers and community stakeholders as possible bidders.
Those groups could end up partnering with each other to create a fiscally sustainable plan, officials said.
The district said respondents must be committed to saving the school and preserving its legacy. They should also be able to demonstrate the financial ability to tackle a complex project.
Finally, respondents should consider the needs and desires of the surrounding community and how a proposed use would benefit the neighborhood.
The 750,000 square-foot school building sits on a parcel that’s zoned R-2 or residential.
The entire parcel qualifies for Federal Historic Preservation tax credits that can assist with capital
costs.
The Gary Historic Preservation Commission has voted to pursue the designation of the school as a single site historic district, but the City Council hasn’t voted on the recommendation yet.
Any redevelopment plan will be reviewed by the preservation commission and proposed rehabilitation work or changes must comply with federal standards for historic sites.
Redevelopment plans are also subject to city zoning requirements, as well.
The school is also located in a census tract that makes its redevelopment eligible for the federal New Markets Tax Credit Program.
Respondents should also expect to detail their plans at one or more public forums.
Roosevelt and its campus will be available for tours from Oct. 5-9 and Oct. 12-16.
The state Distressed Unit Appeal Board, school district stakeholders, MGT Consulting and Indiana Landmarks will review the submissions.
After the review period, the district will announce its next steps Dec. 14.
For information on how to submit an RFI and other details, visit www.garycsc.k12.in.us/doing-business-with-gcsc.