Beechmont Neighborhood Association

Heywood Elementary

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Local/Regional » Neighborhoods » News Item Wednesday, November 7, 2001

CITY
Neighbors welcome rebirth of Heywood
Downs workers will find home at old school
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By Patti Smith
Special to The Courier-Journal


Robert Redmon sees the school conversion as a plus.
Staff photo / Sam Upshaw Jr.



Even with its broken and boardedup windows, holes in the ground and construction areas taped in orange, residents of South Louisville say the old John H. Heywood School looks better than it has in years.

Once construction is finished late next year, the building will become the home of former jockeys, trainers and other horsemen who are either retired or work at Churchill Downs. One-bedroom and efficiency apartments will be offered.

At this time of year, with no leaves on the trees, part of the race track is visible from what will be a second-floor corner apartment.

''I'd have first dibs on that one,'' said Richard Riedel, executive director of Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund, which owns the building. Riedel runs the nonprofit fund, which provides financial assistance to those in the horse-racing industry. Its office will be in the basement when the renovation is completed.

Construction crews have been working on the building's interior since May. With demolition complete, they're getting ready for the second phase of the $4.9 million project -- construction of about 41 apartments, a laundry room, a community room and a day-care center, which will serve children of track employees.

The building's facade will be kept the same as it has been since the turn of the century, Riedel said. It's listed as a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

Robert Redmon, treasurer of the South Louisville Neighborhood Council, said the building is showing improvement already.

''I think the neighbors are accepting it as an enhancement to their neighborhood.''

Margaret Schroerlucke, who has lived across the street from the Heywood Avenue school for 10 years, said she's seen the building go from a school, to a place for illegal drug deals and prostitution.

''We've been through a whole lot of changes,'' she said. ''We fought to get the neighborhood clean. There's no drugs and no prostitution on our block. If we see it going on, we get it out of here.''

The school renovation project is being financed with $400,000 from the Louisville Department of Housing, $1 million from the health and welfare fund and $3.5 million from investors who can receive tax credits through the Kentucky Housing Corp. and the Kentucky Heritage Council.

Riedel said the apartments will provide older workers, including those who are retired, with ''a peaceful place to live.'' He said it's not going to be a nursing home for retired or disabled jockeys. ''Race-trackers love to tell stories and to be around other race-trackers,'' he said.

The building will cater to men and women who have dedicated their lives to the horse-racing industry, he said. Service in Kentucky would take priority, he added. Rental rates have not been established.

The Heywood School operated from 1902 to 1975. Ninth & O Baptist Church housed its elementary school there for several years before selling it to K & W Properties LTD in 1991.

The racing fund purchased the building for $475,000 last November. It also purchased three houses across the street that may eventually be torn down for added parking, Riedel said.

Schroerlucke lives in one of those homes. She said she takes pride in watching the neighborhood be restored. ''I like to see the best for this school,'' Schroerlucke said, even if it means she has to move. ''I hope it's successful. I'd like to see it go back to what it was.''

David William said the Heywood building looks better than it's looked in the six years he's lived on the block. ''It's going to be a beautiful sight.''


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