Tax credits approved for old Baldwin City school; summer reading starts at Baldwin City, Eudora libraries
photo by: Elvyn Jones
In this 2013 file photo, a for
Baldwin City residents can expect to see movement on the redevelopment of the old middle school on Chapel Street, more than three-and-and-half years after Flint Hills Development Group agreed to purchase the building from the Baldwin school district.
In September 2013, the Baldwin school board sold the closed school in the 700 block of Chapel Street and the neighboring South Gym to Flint Hills after its president, Tony Krsnich, submitted a winning bid of $90,000. The gym was subsequently sold to Steve Bauer, who uses it for his hobby woodworking shop, while the old school built in 1923 sat vacant. Flint Hills did succeed last year in getting both buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has had the school rezoned to multi-family residential.
The rezoning was a prelude to Flint Hills’ plan to redevelop the school as apartments, such as it did with Poehler Lofts on Pennsylvania Street in East Lawrence. To do so, the company unsuccessfully applied in 2015 for affordable housing tax credits through the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation. Undeterred, Flint Hills applied for the tax credits again in 2016 with the Baldwin City Council’s letter of support and learned this month the application was approved.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Flint Hills vice president Tom Larkin. “We’re excited and looking forward to what is to come.”
The company is working on three fronts to transform the building, Larkin said. Flint Hills is finalizing the design and working with the city of Baldwin City on a needed development plan and on the creation of a neighborhood revitalization area. That would allow Flint Hills to get a rebate on the added value the renovations add to the building’s property taxes, Larkin said.
“The city would not lose a dollar,” he said. “We would still pay taxes on the baseline value. If we requested a 95 percent rebate, we would still pay taxes on the 5 percent. There would be no cost to the community.”
What the community would gain is badly needed one-, two- and three-bedroom affordable housing units with onsite management, Larkin said. Most of the 30 units in the building will be designated affordable housing, which is much in demand in Baldwin City, he said. The need could be expected to increase with the opening of the South Lawrence Trafficway and Amazon’s 1,000-employee warehouse in Edgerton, he said.
It was realistic to expect half the residents would be new to the community, Larkin said. That would mean more business for local merchants and added sales tax revenue for the city, he said.
The apartments would be of the same quality as the Poehler Lofts and 9 Del Lofts that Flint Hills owns and manages in Lawrence, which have a waiting list of about 200 would-be residents, Larkin said.
If all goes well with planning and its applications with the city, construction could start in the fall, Larkin said.
Eudora youngsters aren’t going to put away books with the start of summer vacation if the response the community library’s summer reading program is any indication.
“On the first to days of enrollment, we had more than 320 kids sign up,” said Eudora Public Library director Carol Wohlford.
She’s not sure what was behind the surge, but does note the library has excellent programs. The summer reading program that started Thursday is no different, and 37 different activities are planned before it wraps up July 27. Events include a May 27 story walk, in which families can read pages of a book posted on downtown storefronts, a June 27 get-messy day, a July 6 outdoor art day and several teen reading competitions.
Lindsey Sanchez, the library’s children librarian, said her group of birth through 9-year-old children have the goal of reading or having read to them 15 picture books or 100 pages. Those 10 years of age or older have goals tied to game boards, which require reading, attending events and participating in challenges, she said.
The Baldwin City Public Library’s summer reading program will get underway with a registration fair Wednesday at the library, 800 Seventh St., and continue through July 6, said Barbara Mathews, the library’s children librarian. It will be formatted the same as last summer with weekly programs scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesdays. They will begin with a show from Erik the Magician and continue with such favorites from years past as a visits from Ad Astra Alpacas and Operation Wildlife, Mathews said.
The goal for young nonreaders is to have 20 books read to them. Readers are to finish 10 books or 1,000 pages, Mathews said. Those reaching the goal will be eligible for goody bags, a yearend pool party and food fight. Middle school students obtaining the goal with will receive homework passes for the 2016-2017 school year.
Children and families can continue the Wednesday mooring programing in June with a short walk from the library to the Lumberyard Arts Center, 718 High St. Arts center children’s program director Wendy Conover said planned events from 10:45 a.m. to noon are yoga with art on June 1, a dance party on June 8, plein air art on June 15 and veggie stamping on June 22.
The Baldwin City Friends of the Library is accepting registration for its annual citywide garage sale, set for June 4. The deadline for registration is Wednesday. Fees are $5 for a family and $20 for organizations. Late registrations will be accepted through June 1 with a $5 late fee.
Registration earns the applicant a listing in a directory to be available the day of the sale, a free directory and a sign to post for yard sales. Applications are available at the library or online at baldwin.mykansaslibrary.org.
The Ives Chapel United Methodist Church free community meal will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church, 1018 Miami St. in Baldwin City.
Eudora Parks is accepting registration for a 1 p.m. May 31 Kansas River float from Eudora to the De Soto boat ramp. The $20 registration fee includes use of a canoe or kayak, paddle and life jacket. Refreshments and a bus ride back to Eudora will be provided. Application are available at the Eudora Community Center, 1630 Elm St.
The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce is accepting registrations for a marketing workshop to be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. June 9. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. Forms are available at the chamber office, 718 High St.