Apartments Could Replace Classrooms at West Philly High

West Philly High has a future—just not for educational purposes. According to reports, New York developer Strong Place Partners wants to convert the old building into a “mixed use” apartment building featuring lofts and studio apartments for grad students and junior faculty at Penn and other nearby universities. (The building would also retain at least one theater and its gym, under the plan.) West Philly Local reports that SPP wants to create as many as 300 apartments, but would also include as much as 15,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Residents might be able to move in by 2016; first the School Reform Commission must approve the building’s sale. West Philly High was listed for sale in February for an asking price of $6.5 million. [Naked City]