Town Square
Why is Paly renovating Haymarket?
Original post made by Paly Parent, Palo Alto High School, on Sep 9, 2016
Comments (6)
Posted by OPar
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 10, 2016 at 9:52 pm
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 10, 2016 at 9:52 pm
One, it's historically interesting.
Two, Hope Musical Theatre rents it during the summer, even in its run-down state. A small theater is useful for smaller groups and productions
Three, it can serve as a lecture hall.
Four, part of the reason for the modular classrooms is that there's ongoing construction planned for the next several years--currently the gym, next the library.
Five, the other part is the growing student body--but those numbers should drop in about five or six years since elementary school enrollment has been dropping.
Posted by Paly Parent
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Sep 10, 2016 at 10:27 pm
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Sep 10, 2016 at 10:27 pm
One, we are keeping a structure for one camp to rent in the summertime? Renovation will cost more than any rental fees. And they can use the new performing arts center.
Two, the gym was more historical than Haymarket and they plowed it instead of renovating it to safety standards. Personally, I think it's historically interesting to keep the Jordan Middle School name, yet they want to rename it.
Three, the Media Center or the performing arts center can serve as a lecture hall.
Four, even when the library and gym are completed, they don't add classrooms, or do they? I know the Paly library was originally supposed to be a two-story. So that means another 5 years of portables, sheesh.
Posted by student
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Sep 13, 2016 at 9:32 pm
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Sep 13, 2016 at 9:32 pm
The Haymarket is over 100 years old so it is a historic building. It can't be torn down. There is no choice.
Posted by Jim H.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 13, 2016 at 10:20 pm
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 13, 2016 at 10:20 pm
Anything can be torn down. No matter how old. It's a redundant building. Tear it down and increase the open space on campus. The 700 building is currently being used as a PE building. Once the gym is completed, that can be used as classrooms and, hopefully, they can get rid of the portables, making even more open space in a contiguous area.
Posted by Parent
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Sep 13, 2016 at 10:33 pm
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Sep 13, 2016 at 10:33 pm
According to the facilities director at Paly, the portables won't be removed; they might be removed when the science building is completed (?). The library is going to be renovated and have an upper level but it will be for storage, not classrooms. And the gym won't be completed until May.
Posted by OPar
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 14, 2016 at 4:28 pm
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Sep 14, 2016 at 4:28 pm
The new arts center actually can't be rented to outside groups for a couple of years.
Paly Parent asked who would rent the Haymarket anyway? I simply answered the question.
And, no, Jim H. not everything can just be torn down. Not quite sure why you thinking tearing down a building with a fairly small footprint is such a brilliant idea.
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