Plans refined for old school

Seeking to boost the sale price of the former Edwards Elementary School, Beverly Mayor William Scanlon Jr. has proposed changing the zoning in the neighborhood from high density residential to central commercial.

With 15 real estate developers showing interest in the project, the number of residential units allowed on the site could grow from 16 to 49 if the City Council approves the zoning change.

"Every indication is that it will go for condominiums," said Scanlon, who has instructed Tina Cassidy, the city's acting director of planning and development, to prepare a request for proposals from developers.

The three-story, 42,000-square-foot school was built in the late 19th century, and occupies 1.13 acres at Rantoul and Edwards streets. It closed in 2002 but is being used this year by Beverly preschool children and students from Salem's Carlton Elementary School.

Last fall, former mayor Thomas Crean had the building appraised so the city could seek development proposals. Under the current zoning, the appraiser, Robert D. Murphy Associates of Beverly, set the value of the property at $1 million to $1.3 million. Cassidy thinks that if the new zoning is passed, the city could get more than $2.5 million.

Cassidy said part of the money from the sale could plug a $925,000 hole in the school budget. Last year, the city declared the building surplus property.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the zoning proposal at 7 p.m. Feb. 17.

There is no consensus among the school's neighbors about possible development. Ward 2 Councilor Ronald Costa said one of the biggest issues facing residents is the lack of parking in the neighborhood. Costa, who supports the change in zoning, said any proposal would have to include plans for adequate parking.

Cassidy, the planning director, said under central commercial zoning, residents of any proposed housing development would be entitled to a minimum of one parking space. "The estimate from the appraiser is that it could easily support 60 spaces as it exists today," Cassidy said of the site.

One nonresidential plan under discussion has given some neighborhood residents hope that the facility will remain a school. In a Jan. 22 letter to Scanlon, Douglas McGarrah, a trustee at the Cape Ann Waldorf School, expressed a ''strong interest" in acquiring the building. Cape Ann is a 200-student private school in Beverly that serves children in kindergarten through grade 8.

"Cape Ann Waldorf School intends to submit a proposal that would not only offer a fair market price for the property but also preserve the Edwards School building itself," McGarrah wrote.

"This building would be a perfect fit for us," said McGarrah, adding that the school had outgrown its space at St. Margaret's Parish on Hale Street. "It's really in relatively good shape for a school. Conceivably, we could occupy it next fall."

McGarrah said the school would submit a bid for the property and also would propose a form of payments to the city that would compensate for the property taxes it otherwise might have collected.

"These folks would have to match anything we get from a private source, both in terms of the purchase price of the site, and the ongoing real estate taxes," said Scanlon, when asked about theinterest from the private school."We can't really do them a fa-vor."

Maggie Falloni, who has lived on Goat Hill near the school for 47 years, and sent her six children to Edwards, said she would welcome the continued use of the site as a school. "I never wanted the school to close," she said. "We've got enough condos. Let them go to another section of town."

Cassidy said the request for proposals would be sent out in March if the zoning ordinance is changed. But just when a developer will be chosen is unclear, and Cassidy declined to speculate whether a decision would be made by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.