Construction finally under way to convert Sunnyside and Kellogg elementary schools into apartments

WICHITA –  At long last, construction has begun to convert the former Sunnyside Elementary and Kellogg Elementary schools along Kellogg Drive into apartments.

"What's really neat is they're two . . . landmarks right along Kellogg — the busiest street in town," says Tom George, a developer involved in both projects.

"You don't notice them, but they're beautiful buildings," he says. "They're truly fortresses."

George estimates the conversions will take about six months.

George, who is partnering with Don Vaughn on the Kellogg Elementary project, got both buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

"It's a really neat program," he says. "It helps preserve a lot of buildings in town."

It allows for tax credits, but he says that's only part of the reason he did it.

"I mean, that's nice," George says. "But that's not the main reason."

Getting the historic designation has been part of the holdup on the conversions, which originally were supposed to happen a couple of years ago under different development deals.

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This story was originally published September 21, 2011 at 11:13 AM with the headline "Construction finally under way to convert Sunnyside and Kellogg elementary schools into apartments."