School plans to buy run-down home

A Springfield school wants to buy a dilapidated property.

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http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160909/NEWS02/160909564 2016-09-10 / Local School board places conditional offer on property The house at 47 Union St. in Springfield. The school district board of directors voted on Tuesday, Sept. 6 to conditionally enter a purchase and sale contract to buy the home, which abuts the Union Street Elementary School. — COURTESY The house at 47 Union St. in Springfield. The school district board of directors voted on Tuesday, Sept. 6 to conditionally enter a purchase and sale contract to buy the home, which abuts the Union Street Elementary School. — COURTESY SPRINGFIELD — On Tuesday night, Sept. 6, the Springfield School District Board of Directors voted unanimously to conditionally enter a purchase and sale contract to buy a home that abuts the Union Street Elementary School. The vote was conditioned on the addition of an acceptable inspection clause and a public vote on Nov. 8. The board explained that concerns over safety and traffic were the reasons for the potential purchase, according to a news release from the school district. The home, located at 47 Union St., sits in the middle of the U-shaped entrance to Union Street Elementary School. The property sits less than fifty yards from the school’s main doors. Approximately 300 third, fourth, and fifth graders attend Union Street Elementary. The purchase price of the property is $45,000. The board plans to use part of the proceeds from the sale of the former East School on Summer Street to pay for the property. The board will hold a public hearing on the potential purchase at the beginning of its next scheduled meeting on September 19th. This meeting will be held at Union Street School at 7:15 p.m. This public hearing will provide the board an opportunity to hear from the public on the potential purchase. In March of 2013, Springfield voters turned down an opportunity to purchase the property at a price of $95,000. “I think that the previous vote was the victim of the timing of when it was brought forth. With it being proposed in 2013, just before the deadline to get it on the ballot, the community didn’t have a proper opportunity to discuss and question the proposal,” said Superintendent Dr. Zach McLaughlin. “At the time, there was some public discussion that the property could be purchased to increase parking at the school, but due to its make-up, the property can only yield a few extra spots. I understand what that board was hoping to do, but I think that purchasing this property has always been about creating a safer environment for our students, our parents, and bus drivers.” School Board Chair Ed Caron said, “The school board has decided to purchase the blue building at 47 Union Street, pending voter approval, with the proceeds from the sale of East School. The board is doing this with the safety of students, staff and neighborhood in mind. We believe that having green space in front of the school will provided better visibility and security for all concerned. We, the board, are looking to the community for support in our effort to acquire this property.” Published September 9, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Union Street building on school board’s wish list By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — Springfield voters will be asked in November whether they want to buy a house next to Union Street School and tear it down to create more green space around the elementary school. Springfield School Board Chairman Ed Caron said Thursday that voters will be asked to use $45,000 of $91,000 the school district received from the sale of East School. He said the purchase would make the elementary school more secure by removal of the rundown building, as well as improving safety and traffic concerns along Union Street. “We will take it down and just create some nice-looking space,” said Caron, who said he didn’t know if there were tenants in the building. The school’s driveway completely surrounds the building, which according to its real estate listing sits on 0.13 acre. The school is home to 300 students in grades 3, 4, and 5. Caron said voters turned down the purchase of the same building three years ago, when there were plans to tear it down and create more parking for the school. The price three years ago was $95,000. But he said the increase in parking would have been minimal and that is not part of current plans. The building had been listed for sale at $55,000 with Century 21. Caron said the school district made a bid for the property and it was accepted. The school board will hold a hearing on the proposed purchase at the beginning of its next meeting Sept. 19. Caron said the meeting would be held at Union Street School. Superintendent Zach McLaughlin said the district was getting several bids on what to do about removing the building and would have that information available at the meeting. McLaughlin said the school board was holding a vote on the matter “out of an abundance of caution,” but the vote would not require an appropriation since the board planned on spending money from the East School sale. That sale was completed in May. The closed school was sold to DAL Advisors LLC on May 6 for $91,000. Darrell Lee is the principal of DAL Advisors. Owners of the building at 47 Union St. are Robert and Julia Kibbe of Ewing, Kentucky. According to records at the Springfield town clerk’s office, the Kibbes bought the building in 2004. It is assessed at $71,100, and listed as a two-family building. David Yesman of Century 21, who also handled the East School sale and is a former Springfield selectman, is the listing agent. Caron said the board worked with him. McLaughlin said the immediate response on social media to the proposed purchase was supportive and gratifying. He and Caron said the board had always been interested in buying the building, even after the 2013 vote rejecting the purchase. “From the time the vote went down three years ago, people in the community said ‘you should go back and try it again,’” McLaughlin said. But he said the board was being really cautious, noting the year of the defeat of the purchase was the last time the school budget was also defeated by voters. “We haven’t lost a budget vote since,” he said. Caron said the conditional offer on the building was contingent on an inspection and a public vote on Nov. 8. He said the inspection was necessary to make sure there weren’t unknown problems, such as asbestos. “It’s right in the middle of our driveway,” said McLaughlin. He also said the purchase would be a boost to the Union Street community, which is trying to rejuvenate itself. “It would be a real positive for that neighborhood,” he said.