The Lyons Township High School District 204 Board has made its first moves to sell its undeveloped Willow Springs property.
The property has been subject of years of debate as prior school boards have sought buyers for the valuable land over the continuing objections of community members. The state’s attorney general’s office cited the School Board for holding public talks behind closed doors and voters expressed frustration over a lack of input on any sale.
At the Oct. 6 meeting, board President Tim Albores asked members if they would like to consider a new sale. The consideration wasn’t a voting item, but Albores told them he wanted a public airing of opinion on the matter before the district began to consider options for a potential land sale. The board members all agreed to look into selling the land.
Sale of the land along North Willow Springs Road would likely bring millions to a district that has for years needed money for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. The land is zoned for retail and residential. According to a release sent out from the district, LTHS had offered to swap some of the land with the Pleasantdale Park District and sell some to Pleasantdale School District 107.
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Albores said the Park District wasn’t interested in the land, but a land sale to the School District is still possible. But in any event, he said he’d like to make this transaction as transparent as possible — and he wants community input.
“We are very much looking to do it more deliberately, more slowly and with more public awareness with the steps were taking,” he said.
At the Oct. 6 meeting, the board agreed to consider a potential sale. That will include a land survey, a minimum price, terms and conditions for a sale and eventually an ordered title commitment. The board agreed to move forward with the sale consideration without much discussion.
From here, Albores said the process will likely take a few months until the survey comes back and the district gets a title commitment. From there, he said the board would meet again in closed session, agree to the terms of conditions of a sale and then formally put the land up for sale.
He said he wanted as much transparency as possible, but added he’s not in any hurry.
“I don’t think we have an extraordinary rush to do it,” he said. “We’re taking it step by step.”
While a land sale is a necessary goal for eventual district-wide upgrades, Albores said in the short term it’s worth it to take it slow.
“So, I think our main objective is just to make sure we do this in open meetings,” he said. “We encourage people to share their thoughts and feelings on it.”
Any new developments, he said, will be on School Board posted agendas.
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.