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http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-28/128842294417580.
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is soliciting offers to buy or lease nearly all the remaining buildings on its once sprawling campus.
According to President William J. Corwin, the Board of Trustees voted last Saturday to put out requests for proposals for the reuse of several buildings.
The exact number has not yet been determined, Corwin said. He estimated that there are 8-10 buildings on the Round Hill Road campus that are still owned by the school.
Founded in 1867, Clarke School has been one of the leading educational facilities for the hearing impaired for more than a century. At its peak, Clarke attracted boarders from around the world. As recently as 15 years ago, 41 students lived on campus. Today, Corwin said, there are seven students in the residential program.
In recent years, the school's mission has changed to reflect advances in technology and in testing infants for hearing loss. Cochlear implants now offer most hearing-impaired people at least some aural capacity. Clarke, meanwhile, has opened campuses in Florida, Pennsylvania, Boston and New York, and teachers are increasingly going into schools to work with deaf students who are mainstreamed.
As a result of this shift, Clarke began selling off its buildings several years ago. David A. Murphy, of Murphy Realtors, who handled some of the sales, counts seven buildings that have gone on the market.
Three of them were converted into condominiums, some of which sold in the vicinity of $500,000. Because of its proximity to Smith College and downtown Northampton, the buildings on the Clarke campus are prime real estate, Murphy said.
However, the plummeting real estate market and the size of some of the buildings have had an effect on sales. Murphy noted that 83 Round Hill Road, the house formerly used by the school's president, has been on the market since 2008.
"The market's not real good for 7,000-square-foot, Gilded Age mansions," he said. He added, however, that the property is big enough to carve out two additional building lots, which could sell for a high price.
Among the latest batch of surplus buildings is the school's gymnasium, which has an Olympic-size swimming pool. The trustees are willing to listen to offers for leasing or reusing buildings, Corwin said.
"We're still thinking about what's the best plan for us to consolidate our use here," he said. "We don't have a final plan for what that will look like, but it will be a considerably smaller campus."
Corwin predicted that Clarke School will ultimately consist of one or two buildings, although he could not say which buildings those would be. The requests for proposals will go out early next year, he said.
Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is soliciting offers to buy or lease nearly all the remaining buildings on its once sprawling campus.
According to President William J. Corwin, the Board of Trustees voted last Saturday to put out requests for proposals for the reuse of several buildings.
The exact number has not yet been determined, Corwin said. He estimated that there are 8-10 buildings on the Round Hill Road campus that are still owned by the school.
Founded in 1867, Clarke School has been one of the leading educational facilities for the hearing impaired for more than a century. At its peak, Clarke attracted boarders from around the world. As recently as 15 years ago, 41 students lived on campus. Today, Corwin said, there are seven students in the residential program.
In recent years, the school's mission has changed to reflect advances in technology and in testing infants for hearing loss. Cochlear implants now offer most hearing-impaired people at least some aural capacity. Clarke, meanwhile, has opened campuses in Florida, Pennsylvania, Boston and New York, and teachers are increasingly going into schools to work with deaf students who are mainstreamed.
As a result of this shift, Clarke began selling off its buildings several years ago. David A. Murphy, of Murphy Realtors, who handled some of the sales, counts seven buildings that have gone on the market.
Three of them were converted into condominiums, some of which sold in the vicinity of $500,000. Because of its proximity to Smith College and downtown Northampton, the buildings on the Clarke campus are prime real estate, Murphy said.
However, the plummeting real estate market and the size of some of the buildings have had an effect on sales. Murphy noted that 83 Round Hill Road, the house formerly used by the school's president, has been on the market since 2008.
"The market's not real good for 7,000-square-foot, Gilded Age mansions," he said. He added, however, that the property is big enough to carve out two additional building lots, which could sell for a high price.
Among the latest batch of surplus buildings is the school's gymnasium, which has an Olympic-size swimming pool. The trustees are willing to listen to offers for leasing or reusing buildings, Corwin said.
"We're still thinking about what's the best plan for us to consolidate our use here," he said. "We don't have a final plan for what that will look like, but it will be a considerably smaller campus."
Corwin predicted that Clarke School will ultimately consist of one or two buildings, although he could not say which buildings those would be. The requests for proposals will go out early next year, he said.
