Former West End school to become senior apartments

Indianapolis-based TWG Development will soon be redeveloping the former George E. Sands Montessori school, located at 940 Poplar St. in the West End, into affordable housing for seniors. TWG is in the process of purchasing the school from Cincinnati Public Schools for a total of $150,000, with construction expected to begin in April.
 
“The West End community has been very open and supportive of this project,” says Andrea Kent, development associate at TWG. “The development will bring safe, quality, affordable housing to the seniors of the community and will help spur further development in the neighborhood.”
 
Opened in 1975 in Mt. Adams, Sands Montessori was the first public Montessori in the U.S. Two more sites were opened and then combined in 1979 and moved to the West End. The school itself moved to Mt. Washington in 2002, and the four-story building has sat vacant since 2007.
 
The $12 million historic adaptive reuse project will yield 65 senior apartments, ranging from 400 to 900 square feet. The studio, one- and two-bedroom units will all have updated mechanical, electrical and plumbing as well as full kitchens, washer and dryer.
 
In line with historic adaptive reuse guidelines, TWG plans to preserve the building’s auditorium, corridors, windows, exterior and part of the gymnasium. The auditorium will remain an auditorium and be available for resident use. There will also be a community room and fitness room as well as leasable office space.
 
Residents must be 55 or older and must meet income requirements. Although it’s not an assisted living complex, Cincinnati Area Senior Services will be on-site and will provide transportation, case management and Meals on Wheels for residents.