Dist. 204 to sell 25-acre Aurora lot

With Metea Valley High School coming along on schedule, Indian Prairie Unit District 204 no longer needs the 25-acre tract it owns at the Brach-Brodie site.

Board members Monday declared the land at the intersection of Commons and Thatcher drives unsuitable, unnecessary and inconvenient for a school.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Dave Holm said rendering the site unnecessary was the first step the district needed to take before soliciting bids for the lot.

"There will be a minimum price of $6,437,500 for the lot, equal to the price paid by the district," Holm said.

If no qualifying bids are received, the district can attempt to sell the land on the open market.

The district purchased the land on the Brach-Brodie site with the intention of later purchasing the additional 55 acres for $14 million for the future home of Metea Valley High School. But during condemnation proceedings, a jury set the price at $31 million - $17 million more than the district thought the land was worth. Talks broke down and the district later abandoned its pursuit of the remaining 55 acres.

School district attorneys have said neither the Brachs nor the Brodies have expressed any interest in reclaiming the land.

Meanwhile, the 3,000 seat Metea Valley High School continues to be constructed and is on schedule to open in August.

Much of the core of the building is under a roof now and has either permanent or temporary windows so workers are able to start putting in duct work, mechanical systems and piping. Concrete slabs are being poured, catwalks are being installed in the auditorium and exterior walls are going up around the physical education locker area as well.