ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager with a Request to Approve the INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT with the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF PEORIA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 150 for the Sale or Exchange of Real Properties Located at 2138, 2142, 2144, 2206, 2208 and 2212 NORTH PROSPECT (Districts 2 and 3).
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BACKGROUND: Peoria Public School District 150 owns six residential properties in the 2100 and 2200 blocks of North Prospect Avenue. These properties were acquired in 2006 as part of an effort to build a replacement for Glen Oak School in this area. This plan never materialized and District 150 has now declared the properties as "excess" and is seeking to put the properties back into private hands. One of the properties is currently rented; the other five are vacant. State law makes it difficult for school districts to be flexible in disposing of such "excess property." As the City did with the old Washington School (November 26, 2013), the attached intergovernmental agreement will allow the City to be the conduit for the sale or transfer of the subject properties. The properties will be transferred to the City and either sold or transferred to new, private owners. The City will bear no cost in this transaction.
The District has already identified a buyer for two of the properties. The remaining four properties may be sold, but could also be used as trade in other property acquisitions. District 150 has also been acquiring property along Ellis Street, Nebraska Street and North Avenue in order to expand the athletic fields at Peoria High School. The District's plan for Peoria High School includes a new baseball field, a new softball field, and a new soccer field that would include a track. This plan does not include any fields associated with football. A few of the property owners in that area have expressed interest in trading their property for one of the homes on Prospect.
The District 150 School Board unanimously approved this agreement at its January 27, 2014 meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. District 150 will bear all transaction costs as well as the costs to maintain these properties during the transition. Additionally, returning these properties to private owners will place them back on the property tax rolls.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: The transfer of said properties on Prospect from District 150 to private owners has no impact on the surrounding neighborhood. This process does facilitate the acquisition of properties for the improvement of Peoria High athletic facilities. It is unclear whether there is neighborhood support or opposition to that plan.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City will act as a conduit for the sale or transfer of properties owned by District 150 to private owners.
IMPACT IF DENIED: District 150 will need to sell the properties at auction and will not be able to use the properties as trade for property near Peoria High School.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: Not applicable.
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Improve District 150.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office