James T. Kienle and Associates, working in conjunction with Arsee Engineers evaluated the condition of the James E. Roberts School No. 97, located at 1401 E. Tenth St. on the northern edge of the Arsenal Technical High School campus. The team determined that structural repairs to lintels, flashings, masonry, mortar and other exterior elements would cost a total of $350,000. They also estimated that repairs to windows and interior plaster would cost around $150,000.

The $500,000 price tag “compares favorably with the estimate of $2,691,831 for brick repair, including roof, window and lintels, proposed by others,” according to the  conditions report.  IPS had cited the multi-million dollar figure, from a 2005 assessment by Craig W. Rapp and Associates, as justification for its plan to demolish the landmark school.

The Near East Side Community Organization’s History and Preservation Committee, commissioned the new conditions assessment of School #97. NESCO is committed to saving the school and finding an alternate use for it. A grant from Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana helped in funding the study.