By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
"I'm really pleased that somebody's shown an interest in that wonderful building."
Mayor Sandy Jacobs, a Hays native, is enthusiastic about a developer's proposal to turn the former St. Joseph School and Parish Center, 210 W. 13th, into apartment housing.
City commissioners on Thursday night reviewed the request for rezoning of the multi-story limestone structure, built in 1907, from public and institutional to residential multi-family district.
The Hays Area Planning Commission has already unanimously approved the request.
"The development of downtowns are often about who's living downtown and how many people there are," Jacobs said, "and what other kinds of businesses we can get to go downtown depends on who's living there.
"Many property owners downtown are converting lofts and so forth. This would be a huge addition to the downtown area."
Public Works Director Jesse Rohr is also excited about the project.
"The longer [a building] sits, they get delapidated and go downhill quick," Rohr said. "So it's well to invest in them for any reason, especially housing.
"We see it as a plus."
As a youngster, Rohr attended school in the building for six years, he told commissioners, starting when he was five years old. "I remember the building."
The developer, Justin Pregont, Atchison, with Todd Co., LLC, purchased the vacant building from the Salina Catholic Diocese. It's been empty for more than five years.
The building is listed as a state and national historical structure and is eligible for tax credits from the state of Kansas for remodeling. According to Rohr, the property is also located within Hays' Neighborhood Revitalization Program area and is eligible for tax rebates for 10 years.
Pregont told the planning commission he is tentatively planning for 12 units in the former parish center.
Currently there are 28 marked parking stalls on the property with access generally made through the concrete alley. Rohr said the city has been in preliminary discussion with Pregont about making a curb cut in 13th Street to allow another access point .
The building sits at the corner of 13th and Ash with multi-family zoned properties to the east nearby public and institutional zoned properties, including St. Joseph Church and the USD 489 administration center and 12th Street Auditorium.
"The future land use map found in the comprehensive plan does show the property as primarily downtown mixed use. We would consider this to be part of the downtown," Rohr explained.
"Basically, it would be considered a 'fit within the neighborhood'. It would not be considered spot zoning."
City commissioners will vote on the rezoning request at their Sept. 9 meeting.
In preparation for the building's pending sale, St. Joseph parish will have a garage sale of sorts on Sept. 11.
School items including desks, chairs and tables will be available for the taking to interested persons. Donations will be accepted.
