Hubble School groundbreaking likely in April

Warrenville city officials paved the way for construction crews to begin breaking ground on the new Hubble Middle School starting April 7.

The city council unanimously passed a "quick start" permit and several zoning variations Monday that ensures Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 can begin work on its new middle school as soon as possible.

The city council is expected to vote on final approval of the $58 million school building project at its April 7 meeting, the same day school officials hope to begin breaking ground on the school at Herrick Road and Galusha Avenue.

"Most of us are excitedly looking forward to this aggressive building policy," Alderman David Schultz said. "I'm glad to see that my grandchildren will be able to attend school there."

School officials went over architectural renderings of the 190,000-square-foot building, which is expected to open its doors to 1,080 students by the fall of 2009.

Last week, District 200 officials announced they will be saving taxpayers about $13 million in financing costs on the new school. The money borrowed for the school will come at an interest rate more than a full percentage point less than estimated, school officials said last week.

The actual cost of the school, because of interest on the borrowed money, is closer to $80 million.

The eventual sale of the current Hubble school site in Wheaton, when the school moves to Warrenville, is expected to help pay off a good chunk of the costs of the new school.

The city of Wheaton is then expected to usher in retail and commercial development on the old Hubble site. The tax benefits of that to the school district should also offset some of the costs of the new Hubble.