Rehabilitation Plans in Planning Stages to Ensure Future Community Use
On Thursday, Sept. 1, Buena Vista locals Rick Bieterman and Katy Welter signed the purchase documents for the McGinnis Gymnasium and the Buena Vista School Administration Building, transferring ownership from the Buena Vista School District to a new vision for the historic structures.
The historic BV School District Administration Building (originally built as the town jail) is often packed for School Board Meetings. Photo by Hannah Harn.
As part of the transaction, Watershed, Inc., a preservation-focused nonprofit corporation founded by Buena Vista locals Rick Bieterman and Katy Welter, has pledged to rehabilitate the gym for school and community use.
There’s something special about gathering in a space with so much history and Watershed, Inc. owners say they are excited to give the old walls new life.
“Everything has really come together for this project,” said Welter. “We’ve got the dream team of preservation architects, engineers, historians, and local contractors, including the Diesslin’s, who actually grew up playing in the gym as kids.”
Buena Vista School District is leasing the properties from Watershed, Inc. with a plan and legal right to repurchase them at a later date. The arrangement allows Watershed Inc. to manage the rehabilitation and access financial incentives that will substantially reduce the cost to the BV School District.
Prior to its purchase, the McGinnis Gym was assessed by a team of preservation experts for structural integrity, as well as the feasibility and cost of rehabilitating it. Watershed, Inc. is also partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health (PDHE) to address environmental concerns. The organization is planning to apply for an EPA Brownfields Grant and CDPHE environmental remediation tax credits to help fund the work.
History Reborn, But Town Values Endure
With the impressive new construction in Chaffee County, the historic buildings of Buena Vista remain the heart of the community. Main Street tells a story of progress, and also a commitment to the legacy of the town’s core values—education, recreation, and connection.
The historic Buena Vista School District Administration Building in about 1940. The McGinnis Gym is on the right. Courtesy photo.
The McGinnis Gym was constructed in 1936 as an addition to the historic courthouse–then functioning as the K-12 Buena Vista school (now Buena Vista Heritage Museum). It was a Public Works Administration project (WPA)—a federal program during the Great Depression to support the construction of public facilities. The structure was Buena Vista’s only gymnasium until 1964.
With the rehabilitation, the hope is for the gym to act as a community space that will serve all kinds of needs, including the use of the existing stage, which could be ideal for a variety of acoustic performances.
The School Administration building, formerly the county jail, was constructed in 1882 at the same time as the old courthouse. School District administration will continue to take place in the building with an eye toward rehabilitation after the gym work is completed.
The rehabilitation of the 5,451 square foot gym will be funded in part by a $1 million commitment from the BV School District, and a combination of state and federal grants and tax credits. While Watershed, Inc. is not seeking contributions from individual donors, it is hoping that community members will contribute in the form of photos, stories, and memorabilia from the gym’s earlier days.
These historic memorabilia contributions will become part of a permanent exhibit, which will include a timeline illustrating how the town has grown and changed while staying committed to its people. The rehabilitation is expected to be complete by Spring 2024. it is expected to become a new home for Avery Parsons Elementary programming, as well as a community recreation and arts space operated via the BV School District rental policy.
“This is the best possible outcome for the gym,” Superintendent Lisa Yates said. “It had been slated for demolition for many years, but I’m so pleased to see that it will serve the community for years and years to come.”
Both the gym and the administration building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which qualifies them for preservation-related grants and tax credits that will substantially reduce the project’s cost.
“This building was thought by many to be a lost cause,” Bieterman said. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see a path forward for its revitalization.”
For more information contact: info@watershedbv.co
Wasn’t there a gym in the upstairs portion that is now The Loft off of East Main St.. I believe it was used in the 1920’s for basketball for the Buena Vista high school? Don’t know if it was still being used when the McGinnis gym was built.
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