Back in 2014, the Watkins Glen Middle School left its Decatur Street building. But efforts to keep it from just sitting vacant were underway immediately.
"I was really hoping they wouldn't just tear all of that down. And it's real great that they changed that into apartments," said Eric Upham, a former student of Watkins Glen Middle School.
"It's not an empty building. It's not a parking lot, you know, which a lot of villages usually go to. This is great," Watkins Glen Deputy Mayor Gary Schmidt said.
Two years later, the building serves as a 51-apartment affordable housing development for senior citizens known as the Watkins Glen School Apartments. Some tenants had their hearts set on living here for quite some time.
One person TWC News spoke with moved from Sidney, where the school buildings have been vacant and deteriorating for some time.
"I wanted to be closer to my daughter and my grandchildren. So I wanted to be down this way," Ann, a current resident, said.
For many, a visit will mean a walk down memory lane.
"We were just visiting a room a minute ago, and I said, 'well, this is the old cafeteria.' It's cool thinking that you go visit him and be reminded of when you went to school here," Upham said.
Upham's father is considering living here. Several others in attendance are doing the same. Many reminisced about the memories they had in the former classrooms and hallways.
"The history with my family and grandparents that went to school here ... The lockers are still here," Schmidt said.