Vancouver school trustee Penny Noble is encouraged that a century-old schoolhouse may be saved from demolition.

Noble was around when the district hosted Wednesday (March 23) a mandatory site visit for parties interested in restoring an outbuilding in the General Gordon Elementary school grounds.

Known as the ‘little yellow schoolhouse’, the one-room building was constructed in the early 1900s.

Although the structure is not listed in the heritage registry, residents in the school’s West Side neighbourhood treasure it for its heritage value.

The outbuilding has been deemed surplus on the General Gordon Elementary school site.

The main building was demolished in January 2015. A new school is under construction. Expected to be completed in August this year, it will open its doors in the new school year this fall.

On March 7, the Vancouver school board voted unanimously to retain the outbuilding if an outside party comes up with a viable proposal to restore and use the wood-framed building.

Proponents have to submit their applications by April 20.

If no agreement is reached by May 10 for the retention of the outbuilding, that will jeopardize the opening of the new main school building, leaving the school board with no choice but to authorize the demolition of the yellow schoolhouse.

As part of the district’s request for expression of interest and proposal, a site visit was required of potential proponents.

Around 40 to 50 people showed up at this morning’s event, according to Noble, the school board’s liaison to General Gordon Elementary.

“I was heartened to see a good turnout of people from the community that are clearly very interested in preserving the little yellow arts and crafts[-style] schoolhouse at Gordon elementary school,” Noble told the Straight by phone.

It remains to be seen whether someone will come forward with a proposal that the school board will be able to accept.

“I’m very hopeful,” Noble said.

The school board is currently conducting public consultations on its long-range facilities plan.

According to Noble, heritage preservation is one of the issues included in the dialogue.