State lawmakers gathered with local officials to announce an $11.3 million affordable housing project for the former Schwab School in Weatherly Tuesday afternoon.

State Sen. Dave Argall told those gathered that he long admired the admired the historic Schwab School perched atop Spring Street in the borough — long before he represented those in Carbon County.

“For generations this was the pride of the community,” he said. “Unfortunately, it became a symbol not of pride, but of decay and blight for about 33 years.”

Argall put the school on the top of his to-do list, he said, and learned from local officials and fellow legislators that many had tried to restore the former school but efforts stalled.

Weatherly’s manager, Harold Pudliner, said the borough took over the deed to the property seven years and seven months earlier.

“Since then, we’ve been trying to search for a way to save this school,” he said, noting not long after, the senator visited the borough on Mayor Paul Hadzick’s invitation and inquired about the school.

Argall’s staff reached out to the borough, and put them in touch with the Alliance for Building Communities, the nonprofit taking on the project that will transform the school into 30 apartments for the community.

Argall worked with ABC in the past in his hometown of Tamaqua, where the organization turned “old blighted structures into beautiful apartments,” he said.

“We’ve seen the success formula in how to breathe new life into old towns,” Argall said, pointing to work in Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua and White Haven.

“When you put new uses into an old building like this, you provide a big boost to the entire community,” he said.

Breathing new life into former Schwab School is no longer a dream, but a reality for the community.

“This proud old building is no longer going to be a symbol of blight,” Argall said in announcing the project, which will use a combination of public and private dollars, which have been approved. “As in 1901, it’s soon going to be the pride of the community. And to all of you who have long held on to this dream of saving this building. Congratulations! You’re big day has finally come.”

State Rep. Doyle Heffley knows from talking to people in Weatherly over the years that the future of the school was on many minds.

“This has always been a concern,” he said, commending Sen. Argall for his vision and insight.

Heffley pointed out that the project solves two issues that many communities face — blight and affordable housing.

“Looking at a building like this, it’s a perfect match,” he said, noting that the combination of public and private funding will work in collaboration to improve the community.

“When this building is finished, it’s not only going to improve this building, but it’s going to improve the value to the town and the value of every home in the area,” Heffley said.

The project will receive $858,232 in PennHOMES funds from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and also a Reservation of Tax Credits in the amount of $1,128,346, also from the state finance agency.

Another $250,000 in state demolition funds from Carbon and Schuylkill counties were awarded to raze the school annex, adjacent to the historic brick building, to provide parking for the project.

The remaining $9.1 million to create 18 one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom apartments will come from private investments and donations.

“We would like to thank the Borough of Weatherly for this opportunity to develop the Schwab School,” said Melissa Keiser, vice president of the nonprofit Alliance group, which will serve as property managers and provide support services to future resident.

“Our development team is looking forward to bringing this beautiful and unique building back to life,” she said. “We are just so looking forward to being part of your community.”

Keiser said the alliance hopes to close on the property in six months, and six months later or sooner, begin work on the project.