The Niles Community School District announced last week it had placed three of its 11 school buildings on the real estate market.
Superintendent Dan Applegate said the sales come at a time when the district is aiming to increase efficiency, cut costs and utilize new space that will be available after bond construction.
A broker has been hired to sell the Westside Administrative Center, located at 111 Spruce St., which is selling for $579,000; Cedar Lane Alternative High School, at 2301 Niles Buchanan Road, which is selling for $295,000; and Ellis Elementary, located at 2740 Mannix St., which is selling for $115,000.
The administrative operations will be moved into Oak Manor.
“We have space at Oak Manor, and we plan on utilizing all the space we can so we can trim the fat of all facilities,” Applegate said.
Last spring, a developer proposed turning Westside into senior housing. The Indianapolis-based company TWG had made plans to revamp the rebuilding, but the deal fell through in June after the company failed to produce a site plan compliant with the city’s requirements.
The company then announced that it was going to focus on projects in Lansing instead, Applegate said.
There have not been any offers at this point, Applegate said. People have expressed interest in each of the buildings, including a developer who wants to continue with plans to turn Westside into a senior living facility.
“There is a need for affordable senior living,” Applegate said. “What we want to do is partner with the city and decide what the best interest is for the city and the community.”
The plans are still under consideration and it is too early to announce the interested developer at this time, Applegate said.
In the fall, the district is expecting phase one of the $40 million bond project to be completed. Howard and Ring Lardner will have new classrooms, where some of the students are planned to be placed when the buildings sell.
The money from the sale of the buildings will be used for construction funding, Applegate said.
Students at Cedar Lane will also be moved to Oak Manor. Oak Manor students will be moved to Ring Lardner, while elementary students at Ellis will be moving into Howard.
Prospective buyers for Westside and Cedar Lane can contact the Buchanan-based D MottL Realty Group, LLC at (269) 591-0036. Those interested in Ellis should contact the Niles-based Integrity R.E. Professionals at (269) 362-5101.