Kane County still contemplating fate of Sixth Street School
About six months ago, Kane County officials prepared to put the former Sixth Street School property in Geneva on the open market. But Tuesday afternoon, officials hinted they may at least be considering some other use for the 2-acre property.
Funding for ongoing and future maintenance of the building is already socked away into the county's capital budget, according to a presentation made by Don Biggs, the county's operations staff executive.
“We're in the process of reviewing the future of that building,” Biggs told county board members. “It is in major need of repair. We're deciding if it's worth saving or demolishing if the county decides to keep that (property).”
That's the first hint of any desire county officials have to keep the property. Geneva Library officials have long coveted the land as the future home of a new library. It maintains a legal first right of refusal on the property if it goes for sale. The county may have already worked a deal out with the library, but the two sides are as much as $500,000 apart on a purchase price.
The school on the property is the current home of the Kane County Regional Office of Education. The office reports to a county board committee led by county board member Deb Allan. She said Kane County Regional Superintendent of Education Pat Dal Santo wants out of the building as soon as possible.
“She has inherited the building but doesn't feel any particular kinship with it,” Allan said. “She would like to have space that is more usable for their purposes. They don't need as much (space).”
County board Chairman Chris Lauzen stopped the conversation from continuing at that point.
He said board members have discussed possible “end uses” for the property in private closed sessions.
Board members are not required to have such discussions in private meetings, nor are they legally bound to keep the proceedings secret, but Lauzen has been outspoken about not tolerating any information from such meetings being shared with the public.
At least one county board member, Phil Lewis, has been vocal about wanting the county to demolish the old school building if it becomes vacant. Lewis believes the property would be more attractive to a buyer without the school building, and a safer, more visually appealing parcel if no redevelopment of the property occurs.
He asked for a professional quote on the cost to demolish the school back in June.
No information about the results of such a quote have been made public so far.