The historic Fruitdale school in Wheat Ridge won’t be home to students any time soon.
The governing council of a charter school selected by the city’s housing authority to take over the two-story brick building has voted against the plan.
Kyle Schurter, president of the Mountain Phoenix governing council, said Wednesday evening’s vote stemmed from a recommendation by Jeffco School District officials, who expressed concern about the $3 million renovation cost and insurance issues — among other things — surrounding the two-story schoolhouse.
“It was a hard decision to make, but looking at our own position, we need to focus internally on our existing campus — building that facility out and looking at our existing programming,” Schurter said, referring to an expansion underway at the pre-K-8 campus at 4725 Miller St. location.
Mountain Phoenix charter school had planned to
The Wheat Ridge Housing Authority purchased the property from the school district for Unable to find a commercial tenant after investing $285,000 in maintenance, the housing authority selected a Mountain Phoenix affiliate to take ownership in a competitive bid process last year.
Now the fate of a historic property shuttered for almost 30 years is again uncertain. Fruitdale was built by Denver architect Temple Buell in 1926 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ken Johnstone, community development director for Wheat Ridge, said if Mountain Phoenix doesn’t meet performance thresholds on finalizing a closing date in the next three weeks, then discussions will begin again on what to do with Fruitdale.
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
