Neighbors of East High School aren't lining up in support of a district committee's recommendation to tear down the old building and rebuild it on the east side of 1300 East.
"We still have a lot of concerns. We want to know why the school can't be built on the west side where the old school is," Don Gren, vice chairman of the East Central Community Council, told the Salt Lake Board of Education Tuesday night.He also presented a letter from the Yalecrest Community Council that raises concerns about the school construction.
Gren said neighbors worry about the school's further encroachment on their neighborhood. He said there are questions about the lighting, proposed walkways over 1300 East and the positioning of the building, which would face east because of safety concerns if students exit onto 1300 East.
Several East neighbors in the audience asked questions that highlighted these concerns.
Gren served on the district committee that recommended the new site, which is on school property directly across the street from East High School, 840 S. 1300 East. He said he knows the building isn't safe and cannot be made safe. However, he said, "I wonder why it (school) couldn't be put on the west side."
He suggested that perhaps East students could be housed at the nearby National Guard Armory, 1543 E. Sunnyside Ave., during construction. Then, the old building could be demolished and a new one could replace it on the west side, he said.
The committee's recommendation, which was officially presented to the board Tuesday night, has the new classroom building being constructed while students are in the old building. Once students move into the new structure, the 79-year-old school would be torn down. The newer auditorium and athletic areas, located on the west side of 1300 East, would remain. A new, smaller building would also be built on west side to tie together the remaining structures.
Tennis courts and part of a parking lot now occupy the proposed site.
Committee Chairwoman Joan Creer, who also heads the East Community Council, said she was surprised by Gren's opposition because there had been plenty of opportunity for protest during the committee's two months of deliberations.
She said the committee looked at various site options and issues, including the use of the Armory to house students during construction.
There were serious misgivings about the feasibility of housing 1,600 students and 80 teaching stations at the Armory, she said. "The feeling of the majority was that it would be a difficult thing to do."
Gren didn't present the only opposition to the East plan. Liz Crowder said she represented a group that opposes the demolition of the old school.
School board members agreed to hear opponents of East's new site at its Jan. 7 meeting. They also invited Gren to submit a minority report.