For five years, the building that formerly housed Sheffield Elementary School has sat empty.
The school has been vacant since 2006 and was turned over to the City Council in 2007.
A number of options have been discussed in the past, including proposals for Avtech Software Inc., to move his business into the space in 2007 and 2008. The Church Community Housing Corp. also suggested converted the building for elderly housing. Thomas and Thomas Development also offered to convert the former school into a Newport Center for the Arts, according to a 2009 Newport Daily News article.
The debate continues about how best to use the building. We want to hear what you think. What do you think should go into the former Sheffield School?
Jack
11:25 pm on Monday, December 19, 2011
Something taxable and preferably a company that employs many
charles hamilton
10:26 am on Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Aquidneck island gun club. Cool shooting range would be awsome. Have a little cafe attached to the front. Muffins and Magnums.
Jim L
8:56 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
new shop in Tiverton, building new range
Michelle Duga
6:28 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I wonder how far it is being marketed outside the big sign. Seems it would be beneficial to try and attract potential businesses seeking to move into the island market.
Rickity
10:24 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
How about rooms for the homeless. There will be more need for this after more "You Didn't Build That" folks go out of business; you know, after Rhode Islander's again put their party ahead of country, and re-elect the community activist. (This stuff is too easy.) It's my Rogers High education!
John Weisley
10:35 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Aren't they going to sell Sheffield for like $5,000,000.00 to help pay for the new Pell school???
They should knock it down and build a park. No business is going to go there, and its too far away from the downtown to serve any other purpose.
A house for the homeless isn't bad, get all the homeless out of Washington Square and dump them into a lower middle class neighborhood adjacent to a ghetto, and our brand new public elementary school!
Johanna
8:59 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The homeless idea is a terrible one. Too large of a building.
I think those school rooms (I went there back in the early 60's) would make awesome artists lofts and apartments.
Real estate in Newport is at a premium...even if they were seasonal rentals.
Julie Owens
9:47 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Hate to see my old school sitting there vacant. It would be nice to see a company come in that could provide jobs. I think the real estate prices are ridiculous in Newport for a lot of old sub par homes with no backyards. I moved to Charleston SC yand bought a brand new 3500 sq ft home for 233 000. I will never look back. Also no snow - ever.