RIP Roosevelt High

Posted By : Admin

Roosevelt High School, named for Theodore Roosevelt, built to represent the communities' pride in education, stands on the brink of oblivion. Meanwhile, Stivers High School gets the full preservation treatment.

[More]

View Comments (11) |

Print |

Blast to the Media!! | | 2648 Views

Comments

[Add Comment]

It is so unfortunate that our current school board and city officials could see no could see no value in preserving this historic treasure.
It's not that PDI did not try. David Bohardt and Jeff Wray provided
a wonderful, viable option for the building. However their efforts
fell on deaf ears. Instead of a revtalized landmark that could have
served the community well, we will likely be looking at a desolate
empty lot for some time to come. Let these boards know how you
feel about their decision now and at the ballot box in the future.
PS. School board member Joe Lacey supported our efforts.

# Posted By Rosie Miller | 2007-01-02 11:24:23.0 2007-01-02 11:24:23.0

If am struck by the irony that Littlejohn, the school board president behind this, lives in a new neighborhood surrounding the historic Hook estate only because the Hook mansion was never torn down because it was old.

# Posted By Dan Kennedy | 2007-01-24 13:31:36.0 2007-01-24 13:31:36.0

Is no one at PDI or the Roosevelt Alumni working on getting
this school on the National Register? This was what the School
Board needed to make it sit up and take notice that Stiver's
demolition was not a good idea.

The School Board should know
what a wonderful thing they've done by allowing Stivers to
continue and be rehabilitated and that this same outcome
could and should be Roosevelt's future.

If no one is working on a nomination, why
not?

# Posted By Roberta Puterbaugh | 2007-02-02 14:11:02.0 2007-02-02 14:11:02.0

Preliminary work was done to get Roosevelt on the NRHP. As I understand it, however, the property owner (the Dayton Public Schools) has to agree that the property be listed.

# Posted By David Bohardt | 2007-02-06 09:18:28.0 2007-02-06 09:18:28.0

The real reason that Roosevelt will be torn down is that the City Commission wants to close all the recreation centers and build a single mega-center on the property.

# Posted By Daniel Kennedy | 2007-03-30 13:42:43.0 2007-03-30 13:42:43.0

I think it is terrible that Roosevelt will eventually be demolished.
It is a 'historical site', it is a beautiful school, lots of history!!
Dayton Board of Education should have allowed the business to
buy site and refurbish it as planned. Seems it cost about the
same to to either - demolish or refurbish. What a waste!! The
building could be put to good use as the buyer planned.

# Posted By Lou | 2007-07-25 09:59:02.0 2007-07-25 09:59:02.0

DPS administrators are little more than govt workers with BAD IDEAS.
* They obviously do not recognize the value of the property that they insist on destroying.
* They have little if any respect for Dayton's historic building stock - something many would consider to be one of Dayton's most valuable assets.
* In the end, DPS administrators are intent on carrying out their BAD IDEAS and in the end the entire region pays the price.

Roosevelt has MAJOR potential for adaptive reuse, and there is simply no good reason that we should allow a bunch of functionally retarded DPS adminiistrators to destroy our old buildings.

# Posted By Mikey | 2007-08-10 22:33:38.0 2007-08-10 22:33:38.0

Although I have never been a graduate of Roosevelt High School I
feel that it is quite a shame that whomever is in the "Keeper"
of the building is not willing to save it.
There are so many people who are working hard to tear
down the Roosevelt that I wish they would otherwise use that
energy to stop the building of check-cashing places, or night clubs.
A building of such magnatitude should be saved to help restore
the community and bring education, recreation and unity for all.

# Posted By Carmela Shackleford | 2008-01-26 16:43:02.0 2008-01-26 16:43:02.0

This building was named for Teddy Roosevelt, a past president. It is a beautiful historical building which should be saved and then used as a family center. The reason I think Dayton is not working as hard to save it is because of where it is located. Stivers, East Dayton. Roosevelt, West Dayton. Plain and simple. People need to wake up and see what is going on in West Dayton just west of the river in and near the Wright-Dunbar area. Nothing is being done to keep the current families there. Homes are being built and refurbished and prices jacked up to attract those outside families who can afford those prices. Everyone who reads this knows what I mean. Just watch what happens. If they tear down Roosevelt, watch what happens with that empty lot. Nothing for a long time. Its the same as what has happened along Germantown St., Gettysburg Ave., and Salem Ave. But those of you who live near Roosevelt need to ask yourselves this question: if Roosevelt is saved, what are you going to do personally, each and every one of you, to ensure it stays there as a viable building free from crime? Keep the crack heads, dealers, prostitutes and robbers away and report what you see. If you don't, nothing can succeed there. Residents are going to have to stand up and fight and be consistent with it. That's the only way anything can be done there.

# Posted By sharon | 2008-02-25 10:42:50.0 2008-02-25 10:42:50.0

I suppose that by now, the deal is done. The City of Dayton should be ashamed of themselves. There was only one advocate, Joe Lacey, on the school board who stood up for Roosevelt High School. This building is by far THE landmark of West Dayton. Since they have already begun the process to move ahead with destruction, another nail has been driven in to the coffin for my hometown. My only happiness comes from knowing that I no longer live there!

# Posted By Garry | 2008-03-16 16:37:36.0 2008-03-16 16:37:36.0

im a roosevelt grad. and i think its a shame they are tearing down such a historic building.that school was named after a president teddy roosevelt.tht right there should mean something there.and the fact that most of the dayton risidents have attended there.instead of tearing it down renovate it,fix it up like they use to..roosevelt is much bigger than stivers.and why is it that they are tearing all the historic buildings up on the west side and restoring historic buildings on the east side..that school has a indoor track and swimming pool. if you need a center fix it up for that .just dont tear it down like it never had no meaning just cause its on the west side.youre already tearing down enough buildings over here ,but you're not putting nothing there in the spaces.take a drive you'll see what i mean.we need jobs ,homes.etcwhat about the future of our children.why they got to go wayyyyyyy across to go to school or attend a activity?roosevelt was a great school and i think it should stay there to let folks know its a histortic site .just do something with it ,dont tear it down.

# Posted By DEBORAH POWELL | 2008-04-11 22:29:20.0 2008-04-11 22:29:20.0

[Add Comment]