Tuesday, June 17, 2008

School Board Votes to Tear Down Rudolph Building

From the SHT

Board votes to tear down historic building on Riverview campus
Tiffany Lankes
Published Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 7:06 p.m.Last updated Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 7:10 p.m.

Sarasota County — The School Board decided to move forward with plans to tear down historic buildings at Riverview High School, ending a two-year-long effort by local activists to save the structures.

The split vote — 3 to 2 — came after an hour of emotional comments from about 20 teachers, parents and architects forcing the board to weigh the value of preserving the building against what they say is the practicality of rebuilding a high school.

In the end, board members said their decision hung on whether the group trying to save the buildings could come up with enough money for the project.

Despite giving the group three months to come up with a financial plan, board members said they were not convinced the group could raise the funding and were afraid the district would get stuck with the old, deterioriated buildings.

“The time to show me the money was today,” said board member Shirley Brown. “I’m sorry.”

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank God practical considerations prevailed. Yale may have kept its A & A Building, but at least in Sarasota the world will have one less albatross by Paul Rudolph.

Anonymous said...

That is a ridiculous comment, Paul Rudolph put Sarasota on the map in regards to any art and design standpoint. That school should be a historic landmark along with being preserved and restored to it's original intent.