BRUIN — The Butler County Housing Authority once again hopes to buy the vacant Bruin Elementary School and convert it into a senior living and community center.

Perry O’Malley, the executive director of the authority, said the authority’s offer to buy the property for $100,000 is again before the Karns City School Board.

The authority attempted to buy the property in January 2013, but the board rejected the offer, instead looking for other buyers.

But that search has yielded no results as the building has been empty, leading the district to again consider the authority’s proposal.

O’Malley said there isn’t a strong market in the borough for potential buyers of such a large building.

“There’s no commercial use there,” he said.

But O’Malley believes the building can be viable as an 18- to 24-unit senior living complex and community learning center.

“It’s a great project,” he said of the proposal. “I would love to see it happen.”

Karns City Superintendent Eric Ritzert talked to the authority to request that it make another offer to the board.

“Their proposal really fits a need in our area,” Ritzert said.

The concept the authority proposed was always welcomed by the district, but the school board will need to determine if the sale price is enough.

The building was appraised in 2012 at $236,500.

“Ideally, we would like to receive that, but we’ve come to the realization that’s not likely going to be the price,” Ritzert said. “However, the long-term benefit of the housing authority’s proposal is what separates them.”

The next school board meeting is March 10, although Ritzert said the board may not vote on the proposal until April 14.

As it stands now, O’Malley considers the potential project in an exploratory stage.

“It’s still very early,” he said. “This is the same proposal that they turned down the first time.”

In addition to becoming another of the authority’s senior living complexes for people 55 and older, O’Malley hopes a section of the school, including its gymnasium, could serve as an already established site to host programs for children and adults.

The authority has been in preliminary talks with other agencies, including the Center for Community Resources, on working together to see what those services could be.

“We’ve had a couple conversations on different uses for the building,” said Mike Robb, CCR’s executive director. “We’ve been in talks with them on and off since the property went up for sale.”

Robb said there is a lot of potential in the building.

“The project has genuine interest for the community,” he said. “It’s great because there would be resources for the community and housing for the elderly.”

Ritzert estimated the school district is spending $20,000 to $40,000 per year to maintain the vacant school.

He said the desire of the school board to best serve the public may help the authority’s case.

“The building is in good shape,” Ritzert said. “It certainly has more life in it. Hopefully the community will be able to see it in a different way.”