Mount Pleasant High School will be demolished in whole or part. Here are the options
Renovation is officially off the table for Mount Pleasant High School, meaning at least partial demolition is coming.
Providence Public School District spokesman Jay Wegimont told The Providence Journal on Thursday that when the district submits its construction plan to the state Department of Education this month, it "will include a [proposal] that allows for either partial or full rebuild of the school."
That plan is due on Sept. 15, leaving only a few days for the district to decide.
More: Could Mt. Pleasant High School be demolished? Renovated? Here's what we know.
Wegimont said the district "is continuing to assess data and feedback from various engagements and will have further information to share in the coming weeks." Wegimont said the plan will ultimately "include a [proposal] that allows for either partial or full rebuild of the school."
"Additional engagement, educational program assessment and cost analysis will occur to determine the best design for the school," he added. Wegimont said a full renovation was not a viable option and "would be disruptive and significantly affect timeline."
What do the two options look like?
Initially, PPSD had presented the three options to the community – a full renovation, a partial demolition and partial rebuild, and a full demolition and full rebuild – as if they were each possibilities. Throughout the review, however, the district made clear it lacked the money to support a renovation, estimated at roughly $190 million, when it only has $110 million to spend.
More: This Providence high school needs major work. Why a patch job probably won't be enough
A partial demolition would be a middle ground between those who want the integrity of the building preserved and the district, which has made new construction and 21st-century upgrades its goal. Yet even that is about $10 million over budget.
The full demolition has been presented as the most affordable option, although the auditorium, for example, might be too costly to replace. The partial demolition would keep that part of the building intact. It would also avoid displacing students, as they would be able to remain in the existing structure while a new building is built behind it, then move to the new building while part of the old one is demolished.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mount Pleasant High School will be either fully or partially demolished
