Staff photo.
The former Vestavia Hills Elementary Central campus is now up for sale. The Vestavia Hills Board of Education is selling the building, but not the field behind it.
The former Vestavia Hills Elementary Central building has been put up for sale, following Board of Education approval at the Nov. 28 meeting.
The school system plans to sell only the building itself. The track behind it will remain under board control, and there are plans, should the 1Rebel 1Future proposal be approved by voters, to add tennis and pickleball courts to that area.
The school board on Nov. 28 approved an agreement with Lathan Associates Architects for that project, which would include seven tennis courts, bleachers, the track, pickleball courts, concessions and restrooms. The estimated cost of the project is $2.25 million.
The Central building and associated property up for sale is a little more than 8 acres. Southpace Properties is serving as the broker, and the property will be up for sale for 12 months. The school closed after the 2018-19 school year.
Also at the Nov. 28 meeting, Arts Education Coordinator Faith Lenhart provided an update to the board. Lenhart said there are more than 800 students participating in the arts at Vestavia Hills High School, along with just more than 900 at Pizitz Middle School and a little more than 300 at Liberty Park Middle School, with elementary-age students receiving weekly art and music education.
As it pertains to the 1Rebel 1Future proposal, Lenhart said there is a need for more space for band, choir, art, dance and theater. Seven or more neighboring high schools have either renovated or built new facilities for the arts in the past six years, while Vestavia Hills High School has not updated theirs since 1970, she said.
A new black-box theater would allow for theater and dance performances, as well as serving as meeting space, she said. The proposed outdoor pavilion could serve as a space for outdoor performances, while classrooms at Vestavia Hills Elementary East and Vestavia Hills Elementary West would receive updates and new spaces.
“We’re really excited about the possibilities of 1Rebel 1Future,” Lenhart said.
For more on this meeting, visit vestaviavoice.com.
