Dist. 204 will pay double for high school land
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 will have to pay double what it was offering in order to purchase land for Metea Valley High School, a jury decided Wednesday.
After nearly eight hours of deliberation, a jury unanimously determined that the 55 acres of land off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive in Aurora is worth a total of just over $28.5 million, far more than the district's offer of $13.75 million.
It also awarded the property owners, the Brach-Brodie trust, an additional $2.5 million to make up for lost value of the remaining 70.9 acres of property at the site.
"As counsel for the board we're disappointed, but the jury has spoken and that's the way the system works," said Stuart Whitt, attorney for the school district.
The district and property owners have been in court for the past week and a half in a condemnation trial to set a price for the land.
The school district already owns 25 acres of the property but would like to purchase an additional 55 acres on which to build its third high school. The two sides were unable to reach an agreement as to the price of the property, so it became the jury's responsibility to decide.
For the past week, expert witnesses have been testifying as to what they believe is a fair price for the land.
The school district witnesses said it is worth $250,000 an acre while the Brodie witnesses argued it is worth $540,000 an acre. A Brach witness weighed in with $650,000 per acre.
The jury's decision sets the price at $518,250 an acre, a value based on when the condemnation suit began in December 2005.
Steve Helm, attorney for the Brodie trust, was pleased with the verdict and credited the work of his expert witnesses in studying the land.
"That would be a number I have every reason to believe that both the Brachs and Brodies would be happy with," Helm said.
The school district has 30 days to make a payment and can then take immediate possession of the land. It also has the option of appealing the ruling.
Wednesday night, neither Whitt nor Superintendent Stephen Daeschner could say whether the school district will appeal.
"It's awful high, but we will have to meet (Thursday) and discuss options," Daeschner said.
District 204, which includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Plainfield, had hoped to start construction months ago on Metea. The 3,000-student facility is scheduled to open in 2009 and officials previously said they would try to stick to that date even if it means part of the school is still under construction.
In the meantime, delays have caused costs to rise. Voters approved a $124.7 million tax increase in a 2006 referendum to build the high school and the school board has promised it will not ask for more money.
Board President Mark Metzger declined to comment until he has a chance to speak with the board.
The school board has scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. Friday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Dr., Aurora to decide how to proceed.