Castle, sweet castle

"Every princess who lives in a castle needs a prince!" she explained, laughing. Gaffey is one of the original tenants of the apartments built in the award-winning renovation of the historic "castle," the former Central High School. The building is a commanding presence in its neighborhood on 13th Street between Nebraska and Jackson streets.

Gaffey's two-bedroom apartment on the third floor is one of the most coveted. It is the only one in which the turret is fully accessible. A steep winding staircase consisting of 23 very narrow steps, takes visitors high up into its crown. The floor at its top is about 10 feet in diameter and is surrounded by windows, affording a spectacular view of Sioux City.

"There were dead animals up there the first time I walked in here," Gaffey remembered recently. A bat. A bird. The landmark building itself had sat virtually dead since its last class graduated in 1972. Various groups rented a little space in it at times, but repeated attempts by nonprofit organizations failed to revive it.

That's all changed, now.

As if kissed by that mystical prince, old Central High has been almost magically turned into the Castle on the Hill Apartments. "It's gorgeous!" Gaffey, an employee of Sioux City, exclaims, still enthused over her choice of "new" digs. "High ceilings, interesting windows ..."

Each of the Castle's 75 apartments retains many of the old school's best features: large rooms; hardwood or red quarry-tile floors, complete with lines of small holes where the desks were fastened down; and 13-foot ceilings, not to mention that unique, un-namable essence a century's worth of history lends the place.

Eleven apartments boast staircases winding up to a loft; seven have space opened into the turrets; four are handicapped adapted and 80 percent are adaptable; and all have modern kitchen, bath and laundry facilities.

The generously wide staircases remain, as do the broad hallways, still dotted with the school's old classroom doors. The doors were sealed and left as part of the building's historical detail. Only the ones leading to apartment entries still open. But they remind former students, some who are now residents, of "good old days" gone by. There's even that old schoolhouse echo in the hallways and stairways. The apartments themselves are quiet, however, Judie Campbell, resident manager, assured during a quick tour.

Five months after the first tenant, Karen Teusink, moved in last October, 54 of the units are rented and more than 80 people call the Castle home.

The apartments, one-, two- and three-bedroom, are a mix of market-rate and low-income rate, with monthly rents ranging from $361 to $615. All but a few of the one- and two-bedroom apartments are either rented or have applications pending. Nine three-bedroom units are among those still available.

Some original concerns over parking for residents have resolved themselves. A few vehicles had to be towed at first, but now the general public respects the designated spaces as Castle on the Hill Apartments parking, Campbell said.

Tenants taking 'ownership'

Campbell said the tenants are an eclectic bunch: an 84-year-old retired couple, a pastor, young couples, young families, single parents and professional people. "It's like a neighborhood. It's a very interesting and good mix of people," she said.

Campbell said she is most surprised at the strong sense of ownership the tenants have developed already, taking care of the building and watching out that others do, too.

The Castle, unlike its old school days, now boasts a passenger elevator and a community room with a large television and a connected fitness room, also TV-equipped. The residents use the community room for two buildingwide events each month, one for fun and one for learning.

For example, an Oscars party was held during the recent Academy Awards broadcast. Another time Security National Bank gave a class in personal record-keeping, an especially important skill for residents who must prove they qualify for low-income rents. Peak Performance is scheduled soon to teach residents the proper way to use the treadmills, stationary bicycles and weight machine in the fitness room.

In addition, some tenants are starting a walking club and others hold a card and game day in the community room, Campbell said.

Every unit is unique

Unlike most apartment buildings, there are no cookie-cutter units in the Castle on the Hill. Each apartment has a unique layout or combination of features.

Sue Dunsworth, a member of old Central's last graduating class, lives in a two-bedroom on the fifth floor. She said the apartment building makes her remember certain teachers, certain classrooms, where her locker was. "I told a friend it's like I am 18 again," she said.

Dunsworth, like the other residents, has developed her own decor, playing off the apartment's unique architectural features.

Her considerable glass paperweight collection lines the wide windowsills beneath the generous windows lining her east and south walls, the natural light bringing their colors to life. The view of Sioux City from there is remarkable, as well. A stone wall which bridges the southeast corner of the living room is set with a mirror and candles on its ledge, giving the feel of a fireplace although there is none.

Up on the fifth floor, first tenant Teusink raves about her one-bedroom apartment, the central location of the Castle, and about the renovation. "I just love the fact they have done something with this building after it stood empty for 30 years," she said.

Nu-Style puts new life in Castle

Omaha-based Nu-Style Development Corp., took on the $9.18 million renovation project, beginning work in the summer of 2002. The Castle is the company's 33rd redevelopment of a building on the National Historic Register. The south building of the school dates back to 1892 and the north end to 1913.

Nu-Style faced numerous challenges, working around the old gym and auditorium and making certain not to accidentally demolish the resident - although already damaged - statue of Abraham Lincoln. In fact, workers built a crate around him.

The most notable change to the building's outside is the new energy-efficient windows, although they are designed to look like the originals. Every detail, including the replacement windows, had to pass the strict National Register guidelines for historic renovation.

Michele Linck may be reached at (712) 293-4227 or michelelinck@siouxcityjournal.com

ABOUT THE CASLTE

The Castle on the Hill Association

The Castle on the Hill Association donated the building for restoration, retaining a 0.1 percent interest in it and ownership of the auditorium and the gymnasium, known for good reason as "The Dungeon." The association, a non-profit organization, maintains an office and a gift shop in the building, both staffed strictly by volunteers. It plans to renovate the gym and auditorium and make them available for rent for public use. Board President Caroline Conkey said the association will work first to secure and restore three historic murals and a statue of Abraham Lincoln. It also plans to restore the auditorium and possibly but unlikely, The Dungeon.

Gift Shop

The gift shop is currently open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. It may expand to those same hours on Sundays in May which brings alumni to town for reunions, said Shirley McLeod, manager. The shop offers old Central High School-themed items, such as T-shirts and sweatshirts in the school colors of maroon and white, coffee mugs, tote bags, playing cards and afghans featuring an image of the school in the center and a view from each side in the four corners.

Murals

Three murals from the school remain. They were painted in 1934 by Rolline E. Beard and depict river traffic and fur traders meeting. A 7-year-old boy, Beard's nephew John Madison, appears in one. Sioux City artist David West is planning their restoration and the association will secure them and add a security camera for additional protection, Caroline Conkey, association board member, said.

Abraham Lincoln

Restoration work has already begun on "Mr. Lincoln," a statue donated by the class of 1912 or 1913. Damage to his head has been repaired and a missing finger on a hand behind his back will be replaced. The statue will likely be encased for protection when it is put back on display.

Auditorium

Nu-Style Corp. brought the auditorium up to code with new wiring and sprinklers, painted it and installed new lighting around the stage. The association has a capital campaign in progress, "selling" seats which can be identified with a plaque, to restore the 900 seats on the lower level and install new stage curtains and sound and lighting systems. The theater would then be available for rent. Caroline Conkey said there already is interest in using it for an actors workshop and for rehearsals. The balcony will likely not be used as there are no restrooms on that level and no access without infringing on the residents' secure hallways. Conkey said it is acoustically "almost perfect."

The Dungeon

The gymnasium is not able to be used at all, Caroline Conkey said. It has severe acoustical problems, but more detrimental is the lack of access without violating apartment residents' secure hallways.

Castle voted Iowa's Best Rehab

InVision Architecture's Castle on the Hill Apartments project was named "Best Residential Rehab" project by 1000 Friends of Iowa. The 2003 Best Development Awards were given to projects that preserve or enhance local character, contribute to a sense of place and connection to the area or neighborhood, and use sustainable construction practices that embody respect for the environment and local context.

InVision project team members Dale McKinney and Paul Martin Jr. led the $9,200,000 adaptive re-use of the turn-of-the-century school owned and developed by NuStyle Development Corp. of Omaha.

The mixed-use facility includes 75 housing units, a two-story gymnasium and a three-story auditorium with sloped theater seating and a full balcony.

One of five winners from across the state, the project was selected from more than 30 applicants judged on their degree of fit with smart growth principles.

Previously owned by the Castle on the Hill Association, the building was donated for the renovation project.

The Association retains office space and operates a gift shop in the building.

InVision Architecture has offices in Sioux City, Des Moines, Omaha and Waterloo.