Springfield South High School

photo by Ink

It's up to Central if it wants South High

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

By Lucas Sullivan

Catholic Central doesn't have the funds to purchase the South High School building, but money will not be an issue if officials want to occupy the structure.

The Turner Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to the improvement of Springfield, is willing to purchase the building for Catholic Central if that's what school officials want.

"If Catholic Central is interested in using the building and wants to be in the building then we would be willing to sit down and potentially talk about what we would be willing to do," said John Landess, executive director of the Turner Foundation. "We are waiting on word from Catholic Central. We don't want to see South High School sitting empty and unused.

"We'd like to find a use for the building. I think that's everybody's hope for the building."

The 240,769 square-foot building — modeled after the U.S. Library of Congress — has been appraised for $3 million, but real estate agent Pete Noonan, hired by the Springfield City Schools to sell its properties, said the final price will be worked out in "private negotiations."

The question is, does Catholic Central want it?

"I know they are still very interested in the building," said Noonan, who added that there are other interested parties not affiliated with education somewhat interested in the property. "They are still studying the facility for its possible use."

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/31/sns080107schoolbuildingsseg.html