New life for Richland's school

The former Richland Elementary School is being remodeled for use as housing for seniors and the disabled, and as a community center.

By TERRI HARBER
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RICHLAND — The long-anticipated conversion of the former Richland Elementary School campus into housing for seniors and people with disabilities, and a community center, now can move forward.

A substantial grant sought by the Northeast Oregon Housing Authority, exceeding $1.7 million, was approved last week by Oregon Housing and Community Services. 

Organizers expect to begin reworking two classroom wings early next year. The 10 resulting low-income apartments could be ready as soon as fall 2012.

Final architecture plans and bidding will come next to move the rehab project on the approximately 27,000-square-foot campus.

The Pine-Eagle School District closed Richland Elementary several years ago due to declining enrollment.

Pine-Eagle Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit organized for the project and composed of volunteers from Richland and Halfway, will oversee work on the site at the corner of Main Street and Moody Road at the east end of Richland.

“We hope it will become a meeting place for senior activities,” said Chuck Rouse, a Richland resident and president of the corporation. “It’s a great facility. And as a community we couldn’t afford to let this resource go.”

Housing is just one aspect of plans for the building’s reuse.

The cafeteria area will be a meeting center suitable for a wide range of community activities, particularly events organized by members of the Eagle Valley Grange. It’s configured for use as an auditorium as well. It has a stage and food preparation area.

The Grange will relocate into the center once the space is refurbished. This part of the project also will begin soon. New chairs and tables, and new kitchen equipment will be brought in.

“It will be available to the community for large weddings, funerals and other events,” Rouse said.

The spacious gym will continue to be used by the community. Local seniors walk its perimeter for exercise during winter. It also has a stage.

Rouse expects that the school district could use it as an extra gymnasium when needed, and that the area also could be a place for large local events.

And the Richland branch of the Baker County Library will remain in the building. It moved into a remodeled space on the school campus in 2007 from a small, dark Richland downtown storefront location.

“The library is integral to the entire project,” Rouse said.

Now that the main grant has been secured, the rest of the pledges will follow, he said.

The Pine-Eagle School District gave the campus to the housing authority for use by the community. City staff also “pitched in with critical zoning changes and annexation proceedings,” writes Kay Young, the corporation’s secretary.

“This is recycling at its very best,” Young said.

Other charitable groups have recognized the project plan with grants. The Meyer Memorial Trust awarded the community center part of the project $50,700; the Ford Family Foundation $45,000; the Oregon Community Foundation $40,000; and, the Leo Adler Foundation $30,000.

Exterior work on the non-residential parts of the building also is slated. 

Along with grinning from ear-to-ear about the plan finally inching toward becoming a reality, Rouse is proud to mention that he, too, is a senior at age 65.

“We’re so excited about this,” he said. “Four of the largest (charitable) foundations in the Northwest recognized what our community is trying to do.”

Tiny Richland’s population of 156 includes a higher percentage of seniors than most other communities in Oregon. The U.S. Census Bureau determined that the median age of Richland residents is 64.4 years old and that 75 of its residents are age 65 or older.

Of the more than 3.8 million Oregonians that participated in the 2010 census, only 13.5 percent were age 65 or older.

“A lot of people who live here were born here,” Rouse emphasized. “We hope the center will help the seniors — and the community — come together.”