By Elizabeth Campbell, courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
FOREST HILL, Texas
Forest Hill wants churches, businesses and nonprofit organizations to hold conventions and meetings in the city, so officials there are moving forward with plans to turn a former Christian school into a convention and multipurpose center.
City Manager Sheyi Ipaye said that the city purchased the former Southside Christian Academy at 6901 Wichita St., south of Interstate 20, for $550,000 using funds from the city's hotel/motel tax fund. The 33,000 square-foot, two-story building is on 5.7 acres, he said.
Ipaye said the property owners originally wanted $850,000, but he was able to negotiate a lower price.
"Forest Hill is on the rise. Things are working well for us. Our financial position is stronger than it has been," he said.
Ipaye said he discovered $1 million in the hotel/motel tax fund and that the money can be used for specific purposes, such as building convention centers, he said.
The school, built in 1984, has been vacant and has large classrooms, a kitchen, an indoor basketball/volleyball court and a gym complete with bleachers. The classrooms can be redesigned to hold around 500 people, he said.
Mayor Gerald Joubert said he is pleased with the prospects for the convention center. The city was researching ways to rebuild the deteriorating senior citizens center and provide a place where young people can play basketball and use computers.
The city also is looking at putting play equipment and a "splash park" on the land, Joubert said.
He added that a citizens committee is also working with city officials to make sure there are programs for everyone in the community.
Forest Hill also plans to lease the facility to churches and other organizations that want to hold conferences.
There are hotels and restaurants nearby, including a La Quinta and Hampton Inn. A Best Western is under construction, Joubert said.
The committee will also look at conference centers in other area cities to get ideas on what to include in Forest Hill's design.
"God had a plan for Forest Hill to buy this building," Joubert said.
