R2001-0023 02-19-01 RESOLUTION NO. R2001-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,
TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND RENOVATION OF THE
FORMER C. J. HARRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SUPPORTING A
FEDERALLY FUNDED GRANT TO FUND SUCH RESTORATION AND
RENOVATION.
WHEREAS, the former C. J. Harris Elementary School stands as one of the most
historic landmarks in Pearland, parts of which having been built in the 1930s; and
WHEREAS, Alvin Community College has acquired this property and currently
houses its Pearland College Center therein; and
WHEREAS, there exists a need to renovate and improve the property while still
preserving its historical value; and
WHEREAS, Alvin Community College has expressed an interest in the renovation
of the property as an opportunity to provide programs for the entire community; for
example, the auditorium could be used for functions such as choir nights, community
theater, concerts, Christmas plays, recitals, political debates, etc., the old administration
building could be used as a training facility to upgrade the skills of Pearland's population
of Iow income workers, to empower them to gain higher employment in the area, with any
such training facility including computer labs with computer based training available to
teach English as a second language, civics education, GED education, and basic skills
such as mathematics and reading for information, the building connected to the auditorium
has 12 classrooms that could be renovated to make them functional for classroom
instruction and meeting rooms, the cafeteria and the kitchen would not only benefit the
students and college-related programs, but could also be used by the community; and
WHEREAS, the funding does not currently exist to make the Pearland College
Center fully functional and open to the community, due to the fact that, while enrollment
at Pearland College Center continues to increase and the programs thereat have been
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RESOLUTION NO. R2001-23
highly successful, the Pearland College Center is outside the boundaries of
Alvin Community College's taxing jurisdiction, therefore, it must be maintained solely
through tuition and fees, and even if Alvin Community College tax revenue could be used
for repairs, maintenance and improvements at this property, the cost of renovating a
historic structure far exceeds the cost of new construction, and therefore, the historical and
community significance of this property is not a direct and sole responsibility of
Alvin Community College; and
WHEREAS, to secure the estimated $2.6 million needed to renovate the property,
Alvin Community College has requested the support and assistance of the Pearland
community; and
WHEREAS, members of the Pearland College Center Board of Governors and
Pearland business leaders recently met with Congressman Tom DeLay to request his
advocacy for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding, such as that received by
other community colleges and other historical sites, and as a matter of fact, this same
method was recently utilized by Congressman Sununu to convert an old machine shop that
was formerly the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, into a University Center; and
WHEREAS, any such grant to renovate the property will also help two of Pearland's
community service organizations that assist underprivileged citizens, Making a Difference
(MAD), which is a youth outreach program that works to provide Hispanics with alternative
programs, one of which is to help keep children from joining gangs, and the Peadand
Neighborhood Center, which is a program that provides food, transportation, day care, and
job training assistance to Iow income youth and families, in that the college will assist these
organizations in providing workforce training; now, therefore,
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RESOLUTION NO. R2001-23
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS:
Section '1. That it is in the best interest of the City of Pearland, its citizens, its
history and heritage, its community service organizations and its future to preserve and
renovate the former C. J. Harris Elementary School.
Section 2. That the City of Pearland hereby supports a federally funded grant for
the purpose of restoring and renovating the former C. J. Harris Elementary School for
purposes of providing facilities for community activities and educational purposes.
PASSED, APPROVED andADOPTED thisthe 19 dayof Feb~'ua~'y ,
A.D., 2001.
TOM REID
MAYOR
HELEN BECKMAN
COUNCILMEMBER
W O- ~DY- O~E N S - '
KLAUSSEEGEI:~I // "~ f
COUNCILMEMBE'P,
LARRY WILKINS
COUNCILMEMBER
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RESOLUTION NO. R2001-23
ATTEST:
,giTUNG L~J'I(G//
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DARRIN M. COKER
CITY ATTORNEY
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