Post by wvhsparent on Jan 13, 2007 7:21:42 GMT -6
For those of us who wondered why CV has been silent....wonder no more
Dist. 204 board member supports alternative to Metea site
By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, January 13, 2007
At least one Indian Prairie school board member feels officials shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss a developer’s offer to sell them 95 acres to house the proposed Metea Valley High School campus.
Christine Vickers said the land in southwest Naperville might not be a viable solution, but it’s worth looking into as Unit District 204 waits to see if it can afford its first choice — the Brach-Brodie property off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive.
“I do believe as elected officials entrusted by the voters to protect their best interests that we have a duty to be fiscally prudent,” she said Friday in a written statement. “Therefore, I do believe it is our obligation to thoroughly investigate the feasibility of this option.”
Paul Lehman, president of Macom Corp., went public this week with an offer he presented to the board in October. He said he offered 95 acres at 95th Street and Wolf’s Crossing Road as a possible site for the $124.7 million, 3,000-student high school.
He said his asking price — in excess of $20 million — likely will be comparable or less than the district winds up spending to condemn the 55 acres it still needs at the Brach-Brodie site. He also said it could provide more immediate access and allow the district to stay on schedule for a fall 2009 opening.
But district officials said the tax increase approved by voters last March to build the school also included redrawing high school boundaries based on the Brach-Brodie site’s central location in the district.
The Macom site, west of Neuqua Valley High School, would require that contemptuous process to be repeated, Superintendent Howard Crouse has said.
Vickers isn’t convinced. She said it might be worth going through the boundary process again if it ultimately saves taxpayers money.
If construction doesn’t begin this spring, officials have said both the project’s budget and plans to open the school on time will be shot.
“Boundaries do not cost the taxpayers’ money but the purchase of real estate certainly will,” Vickers said.
The district offered $257,500 an acre for the 55 acres it still needs at Brach-Brodie to complete the proposed 80-acre campus. But attorneys for the land trust said they believe the remaining property is worth as much as $600,000 an acre.
The two sides are in condemnation proceedings that could result in a jury deciding the final price, possibly in June.
Other school board members and district officials have said there are several problems with Lehman’s proposal that actually could cost the district more time and money.
“I want to assure you and everybody that the board gave his concept due consideration,” Vice President Bruce Glawe said Friday. “The board unanimously agreed Brach-Brodie was the best site.”
Glawe said the original land owners still live on the Macom property, Wolf’s Crossing Road would need to be moved and overall access isn’t ideal.
If it turns out the district can’t afford the Brach-Brodie property, Glawe said, it might take a second look at Lehman’s proposal and other locations.
In the meantime, he said he doesn’t see the need to work ahead on an alternate site.
“We would act really quickly (if Brach-Brodie didn’t work out). We would immediately move forward and schedule meetings or whatever needed to be done,” he said. “It’s a high probability that we’re going to make Brach-Brodie work.”
But if it waits too long on the Brach-Brodie site, Vickers said, it could delay construction and boost the cost of the project still further.
“I think that you should always have a back-up plan. Things can change tomorrow,” she said. “It’s our duty and our obligation to investigate any opportunities that may come along that could save taxpayers money and time.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dailyherald.com
Dist. 204 board member supports alternative to Metea site
By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, January 13, 2007
At least one Indian Prairie school board member feels officials shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss a developer’s offer to sell them 95 acres to house the proposed Metea Valley High School campus.
Christine Vickers said the land in southwest Naperville might not be a viable solution, but it’s worth looking into as Unit District 204 waits to see if it can afford its first choice — the Brach-Brodie property off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive.
“I do believe as elected officials entrusted by the voters to protect their best interests that we have a duty to be fiscally prudent,” she said Friday in a written statement. “Therefore, I do believe it is our obligation to thoroughly investigate the feasibility of this option.”
Paul Lehman, president of Macom Corp., went public this week with an offer he presented to the board in October. He said he offered 95 acres at 95th Street and Wolf’s Crossing Road as a possible site for the $124.7 million, 3,000-student high school.
He said his asking price — in excess of $20 million — likely will be comparable or less than the district winds up spending to condemn the 55 acres it still needs at the Brach-Brodie site. He also said it could provide more immediate access and allow the district to stay on schedule for a fall 2009 opening.
But district officials said the tax increase approved by voters last March to build the school also included redrawing high school boundaries based on the Brach-Brodie site’s central location in the district.
The Macom site, west of Neuqua Valley High School, would require that contemptuous process to be repeated, Superintendent Howard Crouse has said.
Vickers isn’t convinced. She said it might be worth going through the boundary process again if it ultimately saves taxpayers money.
If construction doesn’t begin this spring, officials have said both the project’s budget and plans to open the school on time will be shot.
“Boundaries do not cost the taxpayers’ money but the purchase of real estate certainly will,” Vickers said.
The district offered $257,500 an acre for the 55 acres it still needs at Brach-Brodie to complete the proposed 80-acre campus. But attorneys for the land trust said they believe the remaining property is worth as much as $600,000 an acre.
The two sides are in condemnation proceedings that could result in a jury deciding the final price, possibly in June.
Other school board members and district officials have said there are several problems with Lehman’s proposal that actually could cost the district more time and money.
“I want to assure you and everybody that the board gave his concept due consideration,” Vice President Bruce Glawe said Friday. “The board unanimously agreed Brach-Brodie was the best site.”
Glawe said the original land owners still live on the Macom property, Wolf’s Crossing Road would need to be moved and overall access isn’t ideal.
If it turns out the district can’t afford the Brach-Brodie property, Glawe said, it might take a second look at Lehman’s proposal and other locations.
In the meantime, he said he doesn’t see the need to work ahead on an alternate site.
“We would act really quickly (if Brach-Brodie didn’t work out). We would immediately move forward and schedule meetings or whatever needed to be done,” he said. “It’s a high probability that we’re going to make Brach-Brodie work.”
But if it waits too long on the Brach-Brodie site, Vickers said, it could delay construction and boost the cost of the project still further.
“I think that you should always have a back-up plan. Things can change tomorrow,” she said. “It’s our duty and our obligation to investigate any opportunities that may come along that could save taxpayers money and time.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dailyherald.com
