DAVID SEPULVEDA PHOTO
A day before parents and their 32 nursery school children embark on a new chapter in the life of Westville Community Nursery School (WCNS) at their new Tour Avenue location in Westville Village, school staff Tuesday held a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the remarkable transformation of the former Owl’s Nest Cafe into their new home, complete with a new playground.
WCNS teacher Jaime Kane laid out auspicious appliqué crafted words— Love, Build, Explore, Move, Grow—as final preparations were underway to welcome students after a year of challenges and construction.
The school, previously located in a church on Harrison Street, had lost its lease after 43 years as a Westville neighborhood institution.
Notice by the church landlord to reclaim its space and not renew WCNS’s lease prompted a desperate seach for a new location that would meet the school’s needs. After looking at over 50 potential sites, the school’s board of directors was about to sign a lease on a less desirable location when word came through of the Tour Street location, a longtime bar.
“As soon as we walked into the building, we couldn’t contain our excitement,” said the school’s director, Patty O’Hanlon. “We’re really glad that we found this spot and were able to stay in Westville with everything we wanted — and it’s ours.”
Hanlon said she is thrilled that the school will open on time and can’t wait for parents and students who missed the recent open house, to see their new space.
Westville Village Renaissance Alliance Executive Director Chris Heitmann, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, noted the succession of bars with a history dating to the 1930s at the Tour Avenue spot. “Having children’s voices will make a big difference on the block and all of Westville Village” he said.
Heitmann also noted the cooperation of all the teams involved in bringing the project to completion: “Everyone stepped up. Public works and city contractors fixed sidewalks and worked seamlessly with contractors that were mostly sourced in the Westville community.”
Westville architect Eric Epstein designed the building plans while another Westville resident, Kevin Fagan of Chapel Plumbing, provided plumbing infrastructure. Carpenter Willie Hoffman of Westville is working on the three-dimensional signage that will soon grace the building’s center facade at the former entrance — an area reimagined with a bright window and window seat on the interior portion.
The company responsible for the building’s interior and exterior construction, Christopher O’Connor, Inc., is a father-and-son team with a long WCNS history. Christopher is the parent of former WCNS student, Sean, whose own two children have “graduated” from the school. The O’Connors said they began the construction project a year ago with demolition and have replaced virtually everything since. “The only thing that’s original is the roof and old stucco,” said Sean O’ Conner.
Entrance to the redesigned structure is by way of a handsome, tiled, mudroom area of open cubbies and closets.
The approximately 3,000 square-foot open floor plan is divided into storage, activity and enrichment stations ….
…. and features an interior sandbox; a landscape of prehistoric creatures that will soon activate imaginations.
Fixtures and furnishings are all brand new and creatively arranged by staff. “Our seasoned teachers set the school up,” said Hanlon, “they know how to make the school inviting for the kids and and adults.”
A full kitchen and laundry room are some of the amenities that had long been coveted by staff.
Surrounded by a tall, tasteful fence, is the freshly-mulched WCNS playground, an area that was once a repository for the detritus of exiting bar patrons and now takes a back seat to no playground in the area.
WCNS director Patty O’Hanlon approves the multi-function, exterior sandbox area …
… while the sturdy jungle gym is poised to help build strong bodies.
One thing that has not changed, is the periodic need for fundraisers. O’Hanlon said an upcoming capital campaign will be held in conjunction with the school’s 45th anniversary. That’s good news for teachers Anne Olcott, Juanita Ayala, Jill McCarns and Jaime Kane, who said they hope to build a small loft area in one corner of the large classroom.
“We’re going to call it the Owl’s Nest” said Kane.
For more information about Westville Community Nursery school, visit the website.