In case you missed the poorly publicized community meeting regarding the Wilson School expansion design, you still have a chance to be involved. The Historic Preservation (HP) Commission will be hearing the item during its February 7th meeting and will probably grant final approval at that time. Most of the design was approved during the Commission's December, 2006, meeting.
The addition to Wilson School has been designed with the history of and character of the existing historic building in mind. The non-original "temporary" buildings on the south side of the school yard will be demolished, making way for the additon to the west of the main building. The new windows and exterior facade will be the same as that on the historic structure; the doors appear to be compatible, while different from the originals.
There are many moving parts to this ambitious project, with many different goups such as MAPS for Kids, OKC Public Schools, Wilson Arts, Inc., Historic Preservation, Inc., and Mesta Park Neighborhood Association, Inc., and it has been difficult to coordinate all the parts and keep everyone well-informed. This is why the recent community meeting was poorly publicized (though there are efforts underway to correct this as I speak!). However, time is of the essence in order for construction to begin by April. If you have strong opinions about the new addition, or if you just want to be a part of history in the making, attend the HP Commission on February 7th and let your voice be heard.
Note: The HP Commission meets on the first Wednesday of the month, at 3:00 PM, on the third floor of City Hall, 200 N. Walker Ave.
Posted on
Wed, January 10, 2007
by Raina Pelofsky