DANVILLE — Danville citizen and former student Patrick Crow asked the community a simple question: “Are you in favor of preserving the Intermediate School Building and NOT demolishing?”
His call was answered by 161 residents.
A couple weeks ago, a survey was sent to residents asking if the school building should stand or be demolished.
Of the 161 respondents, 86% said yes, the building should be preserved rather than turn into rubble. The latter voted no.
The second question asked, “If it is deemed possible, are you in favor of the relocation and expansion of the Danville Public Library from its current location in the Village Hall, to the Danville Intermediate School Building?”
Nearly 87% said ‘yes’ to the second question, with 140 votes. Nine surveyors said ‘not sure’ and 12 said ‘no.’
The third question asks surveyors what they’d like the intermediate building to become:
- 49% would like to see it become a visitor information center
- 68.87% would like to see it become a rental space for small business owners
- 72.85% would like to see it become a space for classes in art, music, dance, physical fitness, etc.
- 54.3% would like to see it become a computer technology lab
- 60.26% would like to see it become a Danville History permanent display
- 77.48% would like to see it become a meeting space for clubs and organizations
- 66.23% would like to see it become a farmer’s market or arts & crafts market
- 19.21% would like to see something else such as a rental space for baby/bridal showers, flea markets and a voting booth
“The answers to the follow-up questions make it clear that the building has many potential uses and that the community is solidly behind preserving the building thru appropriate ‘adaptive reuse’ methods, to completely and fully reutilize the structure for the long term benefit of the Danville area citizens,” Crow said in an email.
“We are releasing the entire survey (less individual contact info) to the public for their review,” he added. “We will now be mobilizing our forces to assure the preservation of the Danville Intermediate School Building.”
The survey was conducted online via Survey Monkey. It was also printed and distributed at a Danville football game, at several locations in Danville, and was collected in a box in the Danville Municipal Building and by USPS mail PO Box, according to the survey’s report.
The report also notes there were 126 online surveys completed, 28 were deposited in the drop box, and seven were received by USPS mail, for a total of 161 completed surveys.
Of the 161 respondents, there were 56 people who volunteered to join the team to Preserve the Danville Intermediate School Building. An email newsletter and Facebook page are in the works, the report states.
Danville Board President Paul Stover said the board isn’t opposed to keeping the building.
“We’re not in a hurry to do anything for that building. We’re probably several months out from even making a decision,” Stover said.
“We’ll continue to work with this group and make sense,” he said. “These type of decisions take time, we want to make sure at the end of the day we’re making the right decision.”
Stover added the building needs significant repairs. Another reason behind the desire to demolish the building is added security, Danville Supt. Jason Snively said in a previous Knox Pages article.
“The objective can be meant with the building still standing there,” Crow said. “If we didn’t believe that we wouldn’t be moving forward.”
Crow, who went to class at the intermediate building in 1957 when he was in first grade, said people want to preserve the building because they have an emotional attachment to it.
“We have needs in this community,” Crow said. “We feel that it’d be a great place too repurpose and have a meeting place.”
The next step, Crow said, is to meet with the Danville Local School Board “to ascertain what their plans are” for the intermediate building.
The unnamed committee has met for roughly three to four months and will continue to expand in the coming weeks, Crow said.
If you want to be part of Preserve the Danville Intermediate School Building committee, contact Crow through one of the following ways:
Email: pcrow@DowntownOptions.com
Text: TEAM to 740-507-3898
USPS Mail: School, PO Box 651, Danville, OH 43014
