PRINEVILLE, OR -- A vacant elementary school in Prineville could become an affordable housing complex. Housing Works has agreed to purchase Ochoco Elementary for $600,000 and renovate it into two-bedroom units.
Prineville Mayor Betty Roppe is cautiously optimistic about the project. “We have a really low availability for rentals so I’m hoping it works. I hope it works out so we can see this is wonderful, but I think it’s in the preliminary stages.”
The 6.5-acre property is located on Highway 26, at the northwest entrance to Prineville. Mayor Roppe tells KBND News, “I’m kind of excited about it. I think there’s the potential that it could be wonderful. But I want to it to be really esthetically appealing because it is the gateway to our community.”
Housing works has 90-days for due diligence, which includes a land use code change, notifying neighbors, permitting, and working with the Oregon Department of Transportation, since the property is adjacent to a state highway.
