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Niles Board to donate property, sell two parcels
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
The Niles Board of Education hopes to sell at least two properties and donate several others that could be converted into a park or other recreational purposes to the city.
The properties the board would like to sell are on West Street where the building that formerly housed the board offices sits vacant, and Belmont Avenue, where the Monroe School, now demolished, was located.
A third property off Franklin Avenue is under consideration for sale or donation.
Superintendent Frank Danso said the longer the West Street property is held, the higher the cost of maintaining it.
“We would need to take care of the building and grounds,” Danso said. “It would be in our best interest to look at a potential sale.”
The board plans to approach the owners of a Giant Eagle supermarket located next to the former board office to see if the business would like to purchase the 2.4-acre property.
“Maybe they’d be interested in using it for more parking,” said Richard Limongi, board vice president.
Treasurer Linda Molinaro said that review of zoning regulations will be necessary before any sale, and the value of the properties will require appraisals. She said the Belmont site was appraised in 2007 at $25,000—a value that board President Tony Perrone said is unrealistic in today’s market.
“We’ll never get anywhere near that — no way,” Perrone said.
The board is looking into donating an additional 12 acres, the site of Washington Elementary School, demolished last year, to the city. Board members hope the city will want to include the location as an addition to Stevens Park, which is adjacent to the property. At Emma Street, where Jackson Elementary was demolished, the board is examining whether the 4.2-acre location is sizable enough to accommodate a playground area or track as well as parking. It, too, could be donated to the city.
Board member Chris Doutt cautioned the board to consider retaining mineral rights for any property it sells because of potential revenue for the schools.
“When I [served on] council, we were told there might be abundant natural gas and oil there,” Doutt said.
The board has decided to keep and maintain other acreage near the district’s three schools and board offices including more than 10 acres off Dragon Drive that might be converted into a playground.