A current picture of the gym in the old Silver Lake elementary school building. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.

SILVER LAKE — A public meeting was held Thursday, Sept. 26, in a final attempt to save the old Silver Lake elementary school building from demolition.

An order was granted in May 2018 declaring that all buildings and structures at 202 E. Sycamore St., Silver Lake, be demolished after a hearing was held due to safety concerns, particularly in light of the fact that the building is located beside a public park.

Hoosier Gym Events Coordinator Bob Garner and John Sonnenberg, regional sales manager at eDynamic Learning, spoke at Thursday’s meeting.

Garner began by touching on the importance of preserving historical gyms.

“The thought of a building like this being torn down gives me a stomach ache,” Garner told the crowd of approximately 45 people who showed up. “On average we’re losing two to three gyms like this every year in Indiana.”

Garner said most people believe the Hoosier Gym, located in Knightstown and used for filming the movie “Hoosiers,” is only successful because of that movie.

What most people don’t realize, Garner said, is that the gym was boarded up following the filming of “Hoosiers” with the intent of tearing it down. The Hoosier Gym now operates as a nonprofit, museum, community center, movie-tourist set, caddie tour stop, wedding venue and workout facility.

According to Baur, other than the leaking roof, much of the repair work needed at the building is simple patching and painting work. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.

Garner said grant money was used to make repairs on the Hoosier Gym and told attendees that those same grants are available here.

Garner said the first step would be to get the building on the National Register of Historic Places, which will open up grant opportunities.

The bottom line, Garner said, is that the community has to be interested and involved.

The former Silver Lake school building was originally slated for demolition over a decade ago when the school was closed by Warsaw Community Schools. At that time, Mike Baur expressed interest in purchasing and renovating the building.

Town council members became frustrated, however, when no substantial progress was made. 

“The town council has tried to work with Mr. Baur, but at this point in time the building is basically just sitting there abandoned,” Town Council President Chad Miner said last year.

InkFreeNews sought comment from town officials, including Miner, but did not hear back from them.

Litigation regarding the matter began June 9, 2018, when Baur filed a petition with Kosciusko Superior Court 1 requesting judicial review of the demolition order issued by the Silver Lake building commissioner following an evidentiary hearing. On Sept. 12, 2018, the trial court affirmed the demolition order. The trial court’s judgment was then appealed by Baur to the Indiana Court of Appeals, which affirmed the trial court’s decision on June 7. Baur requested a re-hearing from the appellate court, which was denied Aug. 6. On Sept. 5, Baur filed a petition requesting transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court. This most recent request has not been ruled on as of yet.

At this time, Baur wants to establish a nonprofit community center. Baur’s tentative plan includes selling the building to the community center for $1 and convincing the town council to postpone demolition of the building for one year. Baur’s plan includes leasing portions of the building to vendors. If nothing happens after one year, Baur’s proposal states, the demolition order would go back into effect.

Tentative ideas for the building include a drop-in education center, daycare center, antique mall, brew pub and storage facility. 

Silver Lake resident Laurie Voss is assisting Baur with the proposal. 

The Silver Lake School building was closed down over 10 years ago.

“I’ve made no bones when I posted on my Facebook page that this is a long shot,” Voss said. “I believe in long shots and if you don’t try, you don’t succeed at anything.”

“Without giving names, we have people interested in putting in a little restaurant. We have people wanting a library,” said Voss. “We have the historical society of Warsaw interested in putting in a Silver Lake historical room. We have had a gentleman express interest in using the basement.”

Voss said the lease terms “absolutely can’t be beat” but said the town council “is going to be a tough sale.”

As far as the leasing parts of the building, Voss said everything historically must remain the same. Anyone leasing spaces would be responsible for maintenance of that space, such as repairing broken windows, painting, etc. Baur and Voss said anyone signing initial contracts would not be held to those leases if the proposal falls through. 

Concerns about the building not being handicap accessible were raised toward the end of the meeting, with the response being that, because it is a historic building, that may not be necessary. 

Another meeting will take place at the old school building at 6 p.m. next Thursday, Oct. 3.

Hoosier Gym Events Coordinator Bob Garner spoke at the meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.