McKinley Elementary School Closer to Sale?

The plans to sell the shuttered McKinley Elementary School building are still in the works.

But there may be a buyer soon.

And that buyer could be a public entity — which could include the city of Lakewood. 

The abandoned McKinley Elementary School — and the 2.77-acre parcel it sits on — was first offered to charter schools, a required step in the process.

When no bids came in, the Lakewood Board of Education approved moving the vacant property to the market.

“We’re exploring all of our options,” said Superintendent Jeff Patterson. “We’re trying to break cycle of having to go back and get the property appraised again in September.”

Property appraisals for public buildings are only good for a year; however there is a provision in the state law that would allow the school district to work with another public entity in a sale. 

Think city, state or federal government.

The most logical choice would be the city of Lakewood to take over the property.

City officials have said they’ve “started a conversation” with the school board, but other than that, mum’s the word at Lakewood City Hall.

“We, the school district, want to make sure that property is put into good use for the community,” Patterson said. “We want that property to end up being a plus for our community. We all live and work in this community and we’re very concerned about the next life of that property.”

Selling the property to a real estate developer has been among the discussions.

If the district has the building reappraised and it’s sold on the market, the proceeds from the property would go into a capital improvement fund, per state law.

“People think you can sell this property and put (the money) into the general revenue fund,” Patterson said. “You cannot.”

In addition to the sale, there are still demolition and abatement “issues” the district would have to tend to.

"We’re trying to get all the facts,” he added. “My job is to find educators. That’s my job. I am not in the land business. We look for individuals to help to do that.”

“I’m not in the demolition business.” 

Patterson, who proposed the plan earlier this year, told Lakewood Patch that even if the district wanted to reopen the building, it’d cost between $380,000 to 1.2 million — perhaps more than the property is worth.

Closed several years ago, the 56,000-square-foot building costs the district about $40,000 to keep up — including utilities and general maintenance.

Built in 1918, McKinley Elementary School sits on a 2.77-acre parcel in an area desirable to developers. 

The property was assessed at $1.1 million in November. 

Patterson said the final word on future of the property will be announced in the coming weeks.