Bids Start at $2.5M for Former District 26 School

CARY, IL - Bids are now being taken for the sale of Maplewood School in Cary. Maplewood School, at 422 West Krenz Avenue in Cary, closed in 2010 due to the district’s declining student enrollment and the high costs of maintaining the aging facility. On May 22, the Cary Community Consolidated School District 27 school board approved the sale of the school property by sealed bid, according to a news release from District 26.

Bids will start at $2.5 million for the 15.6-acre site, which includes a 42,000-square-foot school, a maintenance garage and bus parking lot. A bidding packet is currently available on the district's website and all bids must be submitted by 10 a.m. on July 5.

This is the third time since the school's closing in 2010 District 26 has put the property up for bid. The school hopes to sell the property for its highest and best use and return the property to the tax rolls so it can generate new revenue for the District and the Cary community, according to school officials.

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The decision to put the school back on the market stems from recent developer interest and a somewhat improved real estate market, according to a news release. School officials said selling and developing the property would provide immediate and future revenue that would directly benefit the district and its educational programming for students.

"The district has made several attempts to sell the property over the last several years," District 26 Board President Scott Coffey said. “ The board believes that the current climate and interest in the property may provide the best opportunity to sell the property.”

If school officials decide to award a bid to a buyer, the decision will be made by the District 26 Board of Education at its meeting on July 17.

Photo credit: Patch file photo

• Discussions Begin on Future Use for Maplewood School Property in Cary