Hartle has great plans for old Schultz School

For most of us, it is difficult to visualize how someone can take a large historic building, breathe life into it again, and create a feasible use for the building. It seems much easier for developers and architects to build from ground up -- to create something entirely new rather than using existing, older buildings. While it is true that compromises must be made when historic buildings are rehabilitated, it is a rewarding experience for those who are dedicated to saving our community's historic resources. It is also a way to "go green" -- to save not only our history but our environment. When we recycle our old buildings, we reduce waste, save energy to produce new materials, and minimize landfill space. Although revitalization of a historic building may be a daunting task, the final product is valuable to everyone within the community, as well as our future generations.

Cape Girardeau is very fortunate to have its own "green" project currently taking place at the old Schultz School. Schultz School is an old building that could have easily become a White Elephant. In short, it is a large vacant building that is hard to dispose of -- its usefulness has been outlived, and the overall costs of rehabilitating a building of this size attracts few buyers.

Schultz School, also known as Cape Central High School, was Cape's first public high school -- it is located at 101 S. Pacific St. Fortunately, Chad Hartle, a local developer, saw the 70,000- square-foot building as an asset to our community and found potential within its historic walls. Hartle purchased the Second Renaissance Revival style building from the Cape Girardeau Public School District in 2008. The building's construction which began in 1914 was completed in 1915. An addition to the north elevation built shortly thereafter, in 1919 -- it was necessary to house the burgeoning student population that immediately exceeded the building's original capacity.

Hartle visualized the old school as a place for our senior citizens to call home. He understood that a vital part of historic building rehabilitation requires meticulous planning, and he engaged a knowledgeable team of professionals to assist him in his visionary quest.

While a building may be old and large, it does not mean it is appropriate for any adaptive re-use project. In other words, not every historic building is suitable for apartments, something Hartle was very aware of when he explored the feasibility of the project. Hartle's meticulous research concluded that the Schultz Senior Apartments project was financially feasible and addressed a growing need within the community. To make the project a success, however, Hartle needed to meet two goals -- to provide affordable senior housing and preserve the original character of the building through historic preservation. For many developers, joining these two goals may seem a conflict of interest. For Hartle, however, the decision was both philosophically sound and financially prudent. It made perfect sense to use a structurally sound building with great craftsmanship and materials instead of trying to recreate that quality of construction in a new building.

The first step of the project was to have Schultz School officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Once that goal was achieved, it opened the door for Hartle to seek state and federal rehabilitation tax credits. In addition to those credits, Hartle applied for and received housing tax credits. With the foundation steps in place and his team of experts onboard, Hartle initiated his project. It is off to a splendid start.

In order to rehab this building properly, Hartle must follow guidelines set by the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. These guidelines insure that the historic fabric of Schultz School is retained whenever feasible. The guidelines were established to preserve the historic feeling and association of a building and prevent the loss of such characteristics during rehabilitation. Hartle appreciates these guidelines -- they enhance what he has in mind for the building.

Once the project is complete, the building will illustrate its original use -- a school. The original width of the hallways will be retained, along with original doors, transoms, flooring (installed in the 1960s), and location of the staircases. To help achieve this "old school" feeling and association, the 1960s windows will be removed and replaced with new windows that imitate the building's original 1915-era windows. Hartle must submit all of his plans -- including his materials -- to state and federal tax credit reviewers for approval before he can proceed with any part of the project. In addition to these requirements, a whole different set of regulations must be followed for the housing tax credits.

Hartle has worked well to make his project run smoothly. Although there are numerous requirements to follow due to utilization of the tax credits, Hartle does not see the project as intimidating. In his view, it is a project that he enjoys and he juggles many roles including property owner, developer, and general contractor. Energetic and passionate would be one way to describe Hartle. He has worked hard to lay the ground work for this project. Upon hearing Hartle describe his plans, it becomes clear that this project is not just another work assignment -- it is about giving seniors in our community a place that they can call home -- a warm, friendly environment to share with their families and friends.

When Hartle completes the Schultz Senior Apartments project, he will have created a livable community within Cape Girardeau's downtown, providing 45 apartments. Hartle is also offering a chance for seniors to become part of a significant historic preservation project. It will be their laughter and voices heard in the same hallways that once held the laughter and voices of the school children that walked these historic halls. Hartle has found the perfect way to breathe life into this old building. Luckily for our community, there are property owners and developers like Hartle, who appreciate the splendor and value in historic buildings while recognizing those buildings as a renewable resource; an act of sustainability.

Terri L. Foley is a historic preservationist and consultant who lives and works in the Cape Girardeau area and is the historic preservation consultant for this project.