Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - Before breaking up into groups to "design" possible future uses of Silver Lake Elementary School, members of the public discussed, as part of the design charette, what the town of Silver Lake is and what it needs.
The Northern Indiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, in conjunction with Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, held the all-day design charette to gather ideas for the school building. The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization of architects. The Northern Chapter does at least one community project a year.
Silver Lake School Task Force member Angela Fulton reported on a survey that went out to 500 residents, of which 128 responded.
The first section asked, if the school was totally demolished, what should the property be used for in the future. Of the 128 responses, 52 said community greenspace, followed by commercial or residential use.
The second section asked, if the school were partially demolished, what should the remaining part of the school be used for. Sixty-four respondents said indoor and outdoor recreational use. Thirty-five said public library, and 44 said their third choice was for a theater or museum.
If the school were not demolished at all, 76 of the 128 respondents said it should be used for a community service organization; 30 said it should be given to the county parks department; and 33 said it should be sold.
Responding to "yes" or "no" questions, 97 people said Silver Lake needs an outdoors facilities for softball and baseball. Ninety-eight said indoor basketball facilities are needed. Eighty-nine said a mini-golf course is not needed, while 69 respondents said Silver Lake does not need a community theater.
Eighty-one respondents said they would pay a reasonable and fair fee to use the facilities, while only 10 said they would pay no fee.
When the approximate 20 people at Saturday's all-day design charette were asked what the needs of Silver Lake are, the list included young people, a music venue for bands, senior housing with amenities, lower-income housing, community center, library branch, Starbucks, grocery store, flower and gift shops, a hardware store, a playground and a chamber of commerce.
What is Silver Lake's identity? According to those at the design charette, Silver Lake includes a lake, fishing, no parks, a key location by two highways and a railway, Whetstone, Wabash Valley, Metzger Trucking, Kerlin Motor/Bus Sales, Park-Kan, Splendor Boats, Lake City Bank, Boss Hogg, the incoming biofuels plant in neighboring Claypool, Family Dollar, restaurants and Silver Lake Days.
The AIA members then asked if there were no restrictions, what is the best thing for Silver Lake to have in the school. Responses included a place for kids, a music center, community center, library, basketball, arts and crafts, something that generates revenue for the building, kids camps and a daycare.
One woman suggested opening up the school as a private or charter school.
The group then listed the important features of the building that need to be kept and those included the gym and kitchen facilities, the outside "look," the entry ways and the land.
Cathy Compton, from Historic Landmarks, said the Terraza flooring, skylights and steel windows are also important. "Those are type of things that we'd like to see saved," she said.
The balcony in the gym also was suggested to be kept.
From the discussion, three main uses for Silver Lake school were generated - a residential center, a community center and/or a business center.
Silver Lake Elementary School was completed in 1930 and is an example of Art Deco architecture. The school, along with Atwood and Claypool, was closed by the Warsaw School Board in 2004. The school board is allowing the school to be studied for a year to determine alternate uses for the school. If none are found, it likely will be demolished.
