Old Prineville school sold for affordable housing project

Housing Works, Central Oregon’s leading affordable housing provider, announced Wednesday it is buying the former Ochoco Elementary School in Prineville from the Crook County School District.

The Crook County School Board put the six-acre property up for sale last year and it was recently purchased for $600,000 by Housing Works.

School officials said Friday it’s a win-win for the school district and the community of Prineville.

“It was at a point to where the school needed major refurbishments to continue as a quality education facility,” said school board Chairman Doug Smith.

“This is probably a good deal for the school district, in our opinion,” Smith addeid.

The school, which operated since 1945, closed during the spring of 2015. A $33.5 million bond measure approved by voters in May 2013 allowed construction of the new Barnes Butte Elementary School, which opened last fall.

Prineville, like all Central Oregon communities, has a critical need for affordable housing.

Housing Works said it plans to renovate the building, which contains 22 classrooms, into two-bedroom affordable housing units. The building also contains a gymnasium, kitchen facility, and is located at 440 N.W. Madras Highway.

Tom Kemper, executive director at Housing Works, said he is excited by the purchase and the “community design” possibilities.

“We just signed the purchase agreement this week, so it’s early in the process. But we’re going to develop this property into a real community asset,”Kemper added.

Prineville Mayor Betty Roppe said Fridays this is what the city needs so its population can grow.

“Right now, we have almost no vacancies at all, and most rentals in town rent for $800 to $1,000 (a month). That’s really hard for some people,” Roppe said.

Roppe said the city is attracting developers to build affordable housing.

“We think it’s a benefit for our community,” she said.

The benefit that will help the community and the district grow in the future as more Oregonians eye Prineville as a good place to raise a family.