CHAPIN, S.C. — Chapin Town Council is discussing a topic of interest to the community on Tuesday night: The property of the former Chapin High School.
They're talking about what could happen to the land based on whether an agreement with the local school district passes.
Chapin mayor Al Koon tells News 19 he hopes the agreement between the Town of Chapin and Lexington-Richland School District Five passes Tuesday and money is allocated for a feasibility study on this property.
Koon explains this is a result of the school district deciding the property was not usable for them.
"There's a number of old buildings still standing there. The old gymnasium is there, the old auditorium that was once used by Chapin Theatre group," Koon said.
Koon tells News 19 the town approached the school district about the possibility of this study to see what the land could be developed into to benefit the community.
It sits right above the intersection of the hub of traffic and activity in Chapin.
"It has the possibility of being a generational change for our town because of where the property is located and what we may can do with it, so again, really happy for the school district to accommodate our desires to at least have it scoped out and see what the possibilities may be," Koon said.
The mayor explains that a town square would be wonderful, but adds we will have to wait and see if the agenda item passes at the meeting beginning at 6 p.m. EST and the results of the 16 month feasibility study.
The study would allow for a professional to come to the property to look at topography, access points, the possible re-use of buildings, and the size and shape of everything.
Lexington-Richland Five officials tell News 19 they did not want to comment at this time because they are awaiting the council decision tonight.
According to the mayor, if the school district town partnership agreement passes tonight, Chapin will go out for bid in the next couple of weeks.