Eight St. Paul schools will get makeovers in 2017

Many St. Paul schools are getting makeovers under a long-term facilities plan that produces its first round of groundbreakings in the coming year.

Architects and district staffers have been appearing before community councils with plans for multistory additions and other improvements.

Not all meetings have gone smoothly. In September, the Summit Hill Association voted against a proposed addition to Linwood Monroe Arts Plus Lower Campus, 1023 Osceola Av. People now are weighing in on an environmental review of the project.

In the West End area, the West 7th/Ford Road Federation recently gave its blessing to a pair of additions to Adams Spanish Immersion School. Board members praised the architects and noted how nice it is for good schools to look good, too.

"Now will you guys do Central?" a member asked in a reference to the high school's oft-criticized appearance.

Recently, Tom Parent, the school district's facilities director, provided the school board with an update on eight projects that are to be made possible by a five-year, $484 million facilities plan approved earlier this year. Projects include:

Neighborhood: West End

Features: Three-story addition with nine new classrooms. Goal is to "right-size" the school for modern uses, not increase enrollment. Outdoor classroom planned for kindergartners.

Estimated cost: $18 million

Groundbreaking and completion: February 2017 and December 2018

Neighborhood: Como

Features: Improvements to athletics field plus two building additions

Estimated cost: $35 million

Groundbreakings: Summer 2017 for the artificial turf work and fall 2017 for the two additions

Neighborhood: Highland Park

Features: Two-story addition with new classrooms. New gym and cafeteria. New playground area.

Concerns: Loss of green space. Height of addition.

Groundbreaking and completion: March 2017 and August 2018

Neighborhood: Highland Park

Features: Two-story addition with new classrooms, cafeteria and support spaces

Concerns: Traffic control

Estimated cost: $13.9 million

Neighborhood: West Side

Features: Two three-story additions that will include a "house" for middle schoolers and a new main entrance

Estimated cost: $49 million

Groundbreaking and completion: April 2017 and August 2020

Neighborhood: Crocus Hill

Features: Demolition of a building containing a boiler room as well as removal of a single-story classroom addition — with the latter being replaced by a three-story addition with new learning spaces

Concerns: Loss of green space. Height of addition. Increased traffic.

Outside review: Because the school is within the Historic Hill District, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) was prepared for the project. The city is accepting public comments on the EAW until 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. Go to stpaul.gov/LinwoodSchoolEAW for more information.

Estimated cost: $21 million

Groundbreaking and completion: Summer 2017 and fall 2018

Features: RiverEast, a school for students receiving mental health services, would be moved from its current site in Highland Park to an industrial site at 1050 Kent St. N.

Concerns: Ground contaminants need to be removed and a deed restriction lifted that forbids nonindustrial uses.

Estimated cost: $20 million

Groundbreaking and completion: December 2016 and fall 2017

Neighborhood: St. Anthony Park

Concerns: Increased traffic

Estimated cost: $17.8 million

Groundbreaking and completion: Summer 2017 and fall 2018