A buyer has submitted a signed purchase agreement offering $700,000 for the Audubon School site. The offer could be approved by the Rock Island-Milan school board at its meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2014.
The offer was made by an unidentified prospective buyer Thursday evening, May 8, 2014 according to the district’s chief financial officer, Bob Beckwith.
The site has been the target of much debate since the district decided against continuing to own and maintain the building. The board of education previously voted down a proposal to give the school building, built in 1922, landmark status.
Developer Joe Lemon made a formal offer in November 2013 to redevelop the building. Before that, community members defeated a bid earlier in 2013 by Fareway to demolish the 1922 building and turn it into a grocery store.
Demolition began on the building Monday, December 9, 2013. Soon after demolition was underway, the district announced plans to ask $750,000 for the land on which the building stood.
Beckwith has indicated a lawyer for the district said the offer is sound, and the administration has recommended the board of education approve the purchase agreement.
District officials did not disclose who made the offer.
To see the agenda for the board meeting, click here. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.