![Salvation Army building at 1219 Thayer Drive in Richland will become second location for Three Rivers HomeLink]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1632236168/rsdedu/di2fcs5x8xmjq9eetfow/SalvationArmy.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1632236168/rsdedu/di2fcs5x8xmjq9eetfow/SalvationArmy.jpg","width":467}])
The former Salvation Army building on the corner of Thayer Drive and Williams Boulevard will soon be a second home for students attending Richland School District’s parent partnership program, Three Rivers HomeLink.
The Richland School Board recently approved the purchase of the vacant two-story building at 1219 Thayer Drive. District operations staff will make renovations to the space through the fall of 2021 ahead of HomeLink students and staff moving in later in the 2021-22 school year. HomeLink Principal Tyler Reeser says the facility will greatly support the increased student enrollment the school has consistently seen since it moved into its main location seven years ago.
“We’ve seen interest in HomeLink grow every year and we want to continue to increase and improve our offerings to best meet the needs of families who choose to partner with us,” Reeser said. “The second campus is just what we need to meet that goal.”
The building has more than 15,000 square-feet of space, with a large meeting area, multiple classrooms and offices. It also has two outdoor basketball courts and parking and is adjacent to Rodney Block Park.
“We are always on the lookout for property in the community that we can use to support our schools and programs,” says Richard Krasner, the district’s Executive Director of Operations. “This building is centrally located, suited for instructional and other school programs and was well maintained so it was a perfect opportunity for us.”
HomeLink has had between 600 to 800 enrolled students per school year in recent years. The Salvation Army building, which is about four blocks from the school’s main campus on Van Giesen Street near Jason Lee Elementary, will allow more instructors to have established classrooms, more flexibility in course scheduling and provide room for growth of current and new programs.
Reeser and HomeLink staff are working with district leaders to identify how the school’s programs will be shared between the newly purchased building and HomeLink’s current campus.