By Howard Fischer | Tucson.com
PHOENIX — Arizona has too few affordable housing rentals, but too many schools.
Now, Sen. John Kavanagh thinks he’s found a way to convert the two problems into a solution: Allow unused schools to be sold off or leased to be made into housing for teachers and other workers in government and critical workforce sectors.
Kavanagh acknowledged that school buildings were designed and built with a specific purpose in mind, providing classrooms, offices and bathrooms scattered throughout. But the Fountain Hills Republican said there’s no reason they cannot be repurposed.
“That’s an architectural question,” Kavanagh said. “There was a time when people said they could never do that because only the core of the building had plumbing, and all that stuff. They’re converting office buildings right now to residential.”
