Building Commission Looking for Matching Funds to Save York Institute

A private fundraising effort to rehab the deteriorating York Institute in Jamestown fell far short of a half-million dollar goal.

The State Building Commission gave family members of World War I hero Alvin C. York 120 days to raise money to shore up the original school building, built by York himself. The structure has been vacant since the early 1980s and the most recent engineering report indicates it could collapse.

However, in a meeting (today/yesterday), assistant commissioner of real property Charles Garrett gave no indication the state would bring out the bulldozers any time soon.

“It’s been 28 years, and if they really want to do something locally with the facility, then let’s give them time.”

The York family raised 150-thousand dollars since January, with another 100-thousand pledged. State officials estimate it would take roughly a half-million to make the building safe again but millions more to make the space usable.

The Department of Education runs the York Institute out of a modern building next to the original structure. Four classrooms have been abandoned for fear of falling debris.

Assistant education commissioner Robert Greene says he’s willing to make do using the cafeteria and auditorium as classroom space for a while longer. He says if the old building is repaired, he’ll use it. But his department won’t contribute money to the preservation effort.

“If we’re asked what we’re going to do, then we recommend spending the money on some improvements for children at the schools.”

Building officials are now looking for state money to pay for York’s structural repairs and not actively pursuing demolition.