New U-46 elementary school plan wins support of Elgin planning commission

The plan to replace McKinley Elementary School in Elgin received a passing grade from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission this week when the panel unanimously endorsed the proposal.

Elgin City Council members ultimately will decide whether Elgin Area School District U-46 will be allowed to construct the new school building at the former site of the D.C. Cook publishing factory.

If the project gets final approval, the yet-to-named school at 850 N. Grove Ave. will accommodate up to 680 students in pre-K through fifth grades in a two-story, 88,000-square-foot building.

“We view the construction of this new elementary school as a generational investment in both the children of Elgin and School District U-46, but also the surrounding neighborhood,” U-46 Chief of Staff Brian Lindholm told planning commissioners Monday.

The district expects approximately 450 students when the school is anticipated to open in August 2028.

The new elementary school would be located four blocks to the west of McKinley, which was built in 1887. It is one of the oldest and least accessible buildings within the school district, Lindholm said.

The district studied the possibility of demolishing the school and rebuilding it on the same spot. But that was deemed impractical due to the small footprint.

“We worked hard to identify a site within walking distance of McKinley to build a new school while preserving neighborhood continuity and providing an equitable, future-ready learning environment,” Lindholm said.

Students would continue to attend McKinley while the new school is being constructed. Lindholm said there were no immediate plans to demolish the building afterward. He said the district would continue to maintain the building and keep the playground open to the community while possibly working with local organizations about an adaptive reuse plan.

The district purchased the D.C. Cook property in 2024. The 145,000-square-foot vacant, former printing plant on the 9.18-acre property will be demolished, and the new school building will be located in the center of the site.

Staff and visitor parking lots would be located north and southeast of the building, with the outdoor playgrounds and play field located west and southwest of the building.

Lindholm said the district held community meetings, and the main concerns from neighbors focused on traffic and protecting several mature oak trees on the property.

“I can assure you we’ve taken those concerns to heart,” he said.

After commissioning traffic engineering and arborist studies, the district incorporated the findings into the plan, including preserving three large oak trees on the property.

“We feel this project will transform a vacant industrial site into a beautifully landscaped campus with a modern U-46 elementary school that will strengthen neighborhood stability and serve as a point of pride for many generations,” Lindholm said.