News Reader.info

A study is underway for a projected $18 million project to renovate the shuttered West Roxbury Education Complex, according to the City of Boston’s Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Budget. 

Mayor Michelle Wu said at a GBH Forum on May 3 that the complex, which has been vacant since it closed in June 2019, is ripe for use. 

It was shuttered due to “major roof, masonry, and windows issues and significant deferred maintenance,” according to the city. At the forum last week, Wu said the complex has fairly new

athletic fields, lab spaces, natural environments surrounding it, and a full-sized pool.

“[There is] lots of space, which is such a luxury in Boston, that we need to make sure is firmly for education for our young people,” she said, according to GBH.

The idea is to use the facility as a 7th through 12th grade school catering to students from across Boston, according to the city.

Reopening WREC has been on Wu’s agenda for some time and is considered a “major initiative” by the city. Last year, the mayor announced the Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools, which

introduced plans for rebuilding WREC, along with a host of other projects for the district.

According to the city, based on the needs assessment that has been done on the shuttered complex, Boston’s Public Facilities Department is recommending a full renovation, with internal

demolition work. The structure itself, though, will not be demolished.

The $18 million allocated in the 2024 capital budget for renovating the complex is slated for project design, according the city.

“The total budgeted amount and the actual cost of the project will increase over time as design progresses and construction begins,” the city spokesperson told Boston.com.

This is not the first time a renovation project has been initiated at WREC. In 2015, an $18.2 million Field Improvements Project also touched the complex, bringing new athletic fields to the

area. A bus route was also introduced. 

According to GBH, Wu said the space provides an incredible opportunity for the city and BPS that “we can’t pass up.” She said it’s important that the city doesn’t let the space get used by

another entity.

“We’re finding opportunities to really go in and make sure, how do we make the connections with resources and partners and energy that is already present in our community to elevate each and

every one of our high schools,” she said in the GBH forum.