WEATHERLY, Pa. — Perched on the hill overlooking the borough of Weatherly, you can't help but notice the Mrs. Charles M. Schwab School.
"As you come into town, it's an icon; you know it's the feature of the town," said Weatherly Borough Manager Harold Pudliner,
The school on the corner of Main and Spring Street was gifted to the people of Weatherly in 1901 by billionaire Charles Schwab as a present to his wife's hometown.
However, the doors were closed in 1991.
Recently the borough and local politicians State Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), State Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-122) secured funding to transform the old school into 30 affordable housing units. Officials say there are plans for 12 two-bedroom and 18 one-bedroom.
Officials say $858,232 in PennHOMES funds from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and also Reservation of Tax Credits in the amount of $1,128,346 also from the PHFA.
$250,000 in state demolition funds from Schuylkill/Carbon were also awarded.
The rest of the project is being funded by private investment and donations.
" We have another affordable housing building here in town with 30 units, and it's full, and there is a waiting list of over 40 people, so this will certainly help," said Pudliner.
Ginny Hauser has lived right next door to the Schwab school since 1978. She's a graduate of the school along with her children.
She's watched over the years as the building sat empty. Through a broken window, you can even see a tree growing inside. Hauser tells Newswatch 16 she's waited for it to be used for something.
"I'm sort of torn. I don't know what I want. I mean senior apartments, maybe, but low income. I'm not sure," said Hauser.
Weatherly Borough officials tell Newswatch 16 that there is a long list of restoration plans to bring this building back to life.
One major change, the former school annex building will be torn down. People who live nearby say it's about time.
"It needs a new roof, and there is asbestos abatement that needs to be done in the building, and actually, what they are going to do is take the old school annex will be torn off," explained Pudliner.
"The gym that's near the yard, the glass breaking, falling into the yard. My grandkids couldn't play there. We had to have them board it up. But it's starting to deteriorate it's really gone downhill," said Hauser.
The project is anticipated to cost a total of $11.3 million. Weatherly Borough officials hope to start the process in the spring.