Clendenin Schoolhouse Revitalizes Community
Clendenin Middle School in Kanawha County was built in the early 20th Century. Like many schools throughout West Virginia and the nation, the school was closed due to consolidation and sat empty. At the urging of the community, the school board donated the building to a non-profit group-25045-A New Clendenin Inc. Members of this grassroots organization believed the old school building was still vital to the community and saw it as an opportunity to provide new services to Clendenin’s citizens as well as create new jobs.
Affordable Housing for Seniors
A private development firm specializing in the refurbishment of historic school buildings, AU Associates (based in Lexington, KY) has been hired to construct 18 affordable housing units for seniors. The State of West Virginia recently announced that through grant writing efforts of TEA and AU Associates, the project will receive $2.7 million in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The funds will be used to build apartment-style living space inside the school building.Health Clinic
In addition to affordable housing for seniors, TEA and the Clendenin group is working with Cabin Creek Health Systems to expand community access to health care. This summer, TEA helped 25045 A New Clendenin Inc. secure $1 million in direct loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist in renovating the school’s second floor to be used as a spacious new clinic for Cabin Creek Health Systems. The Clinic’s current location in the community occupies 5,400 square feet; the new location will provide the clinic 12,500 square feet. In addition, the leveraged funding will be used to create 15 exam rooms, a pharmacy, physical therapy center and administrative offices.Afterschool and Day Care Programs
Additional funding is being provided by the Harper Family Foundation and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation to help create opportunities for afterschool programs and a day care center for children to be located in the old school.
To help with the renovation of the building and the creation of community projects and partnerships that would be housed within the space, the Clendenin group hired Terrell Ellis and Associates (TEA). As a result plans are underway to turn Clendenin Middle School into a mixed-use facility that will offer affordable housing, health care, child care and afterschool programs.
The expansion of the clinic, creation of senior housing units and the creation of afterschool and day care programs is providing additional access to programs for the town’s citizens and creating much needed jobs. Through community commitment, partnership and securing appropriate funding, an old building is once again becoming the heart of the Clendenin Community.