Moving Hubble is the wrong move
On Feb. 5, it will be time to vote on School District 200's $58 million tax increase to raze Hubble Middle School and relocate it to Warrenville.
This is perhaps the most important question posed to every School District 200 taxpayer, specifically the Wheaton taxpayers.
The school has been a priceless piece of the fabric of Wheaton's community for over 82 years. Hubble has provided thousands of children an excellent education along with recreational activities establishing a community asset for generations and stability to the residential tax base community for decades. Equally, for decades, Wheaton faces the constant challenge of filling abundant empty retail and office space throughout Wheaton.
Does it make sense to potentially bring more retail or condos to replace Hubble when Wheaton hasn't filled what we now have?
Today's overall economy is significantly ailing. Can any taxpayer afford to risk stability and be fiscally wasteful?
The district is promoting the new relocated Hubble cost at $58 million and renovating the existing Hubble with additional 8,500 square feet cost at $61 million.
Why isn't the district promoting a $49 million renovation cost instead of the inflated $61 million renovation cost? From my information, the school district can be renovated for $49 million.
Do you think if the existing Hubble were redeveloped it would generate millions of dollars to Wheaton's tax rolls?
The existing Hubble stands over 65,000 square feet larger and over four acres larger than the potential new $58 million Hubble. The district's square-foot price for the new school equates to over a $20 million structural asset loss and multi-million dollar land asset loss to the taxpayers. It would take over 20 years for Wheaton to recover those asset losses in estimated Hubble redevelopment tax dollars.
Further concerns are longer bus rides for some Wheaton and special needs children, fewer classrooms, lost green space/ball fields, lost gym and auditorium space, lost outdoor track, lost community space, losing a school and losing a Wheaton historic landmark forever.
Vote "no" on Feb. 5 on the tax increase for a $58 million Hubble Middle School.
Michelle Senatore
Wheaton