Washburn Towers put to good use for its second life on Main Street

It is gratifying to see a good plan come together. That’s precisely what happened for all to see this past weekend.

 Ottawa University Theatre students, along with children and adults from the Ottawa community, performed Disney’s popular musical Beauty and the Beast at the newly restored theater at Washburn Towers’ auditorium. It was the inaugural performance for the historic theater since the former Ottawa Middle and Senior High School closed nearly 12 years ago. A new gold, black and red color scheme complement the newly-cleaned seats, which are accented by new curtains, shades, carpeting and safety bars.

 A grassroots group, Friends of Historic Buildings, helped save the structure from demolition and assisted historic Kansas City, Kan., architect and developer, Steve Foutch, in bringing it back to life.

 The National Historic Structure is alive with activity now. Residents were guests at the musical’s dress rehearsal Thursday evening. Now those residents are sharing their home with the public by opening the doors for the musical and other community activities.

 Washburn Towers, 506 and 526 S. Main St., is at full occupancy with 54 residents in 45 housing units, plus a waiting list. The apartments are tastefully appointed — many with chalk boards, lockers and other traditional school elements. One resident, a former OHS student and cheerleader at the school, has her cheerleader outfit on display in one of the display windows alongside a poodle skirt and saddle shoes.

 The ambiance continues through the halls of the 91-year-old building with an indoor swimming pool for residents to take water aerobics classes as well as leisure-time activities. A patio, complete with a bird bath, benches and fountain provide a soothing setting for residents. The large civic center room where residents often gather to play cards, have discussions over a cup of coffee and more is available for rent and use by the public. The room already has been the site of several wedding receptions, alumni events, banquets, square dancers and weekly Weight Watcher meetings.

 One other nostalgic room — the upper basketball gymnasium — is yet to be used fully. Leasing agents hope to rent the large carpeted room out for executive meetings. Suzuki Strings recently moved offices across Main Street from the Carnegie Cultural Center into Washburn Towers. A new dance studio, Studio H Dance Academy, opened in the building, too.

 This is not the end of improvements though. The management agency, Bionic Real Estate, wants to add a garden, gazebo, outer vestibule, movies for residents and dog-park in the near future.

 The former educational institution through which thousands of students passed through the years has been appropriately resurrected and adapted in fine form, breathing life into old and new memories.