Norman School redevelopment advances

Drew Gilmore, co-president of the Valentine Neighborhood, testified on the Norman School proposal.

Drew Gilmore, co-president of the Valentine Neighborhood, testified on the Norman School proposal.

A city council committee on Wednesday advanced a plan for redeveloping the historic Norman School into apartments.

The school at 3521 Summit Street in the Valentine Neighborhood was built in 1906 and has been vacant for years.

Developer Del Hedgepath has a $13 million plan that would add on to the school to create a total of 61 apartments.

It goes to the full council for final approval today.

The Valentine Neighborhood Association had opposed an earlier version of the plan. It now supports it since the developer has reduced the number of units, added parking, moved a swimming pool and made other changes, said Drew Gilmore, neighborhood co-president.

The high density in the area is still a concern, said Chris Jordan, who worked on a neighborhood committee that sought the changes.

She does not want the high density to set a standard, she said. “We think this is an exception for our area.”

Councilwoman Katheryn Shields said, “I understand the issues about density, but when you have a great historic building like this ….”

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