2 buyers interested in Elmhurst site

By Ashley Sloboda | The Journal Gazette

Fort Wayne Community Schools might not want the former Elmhurst High School property any more, but others do.

The district has received two offers for the Sand Point Road site, which the school board unanimously voted in February to sell.

Because of negotiations, details about the offers cannot be released, FWCS spokeswoman Krista Stockman said.

Board President Julie Hollingsworth said Wednesday she was happy to get more than one offer.

“I think most people are glad to sell it and move on,” she said, referring to board members.

Elmhurst, which was built in 1929 and underwent several additions, closed after the 2009-10 academic year because of school consolidation and because of the conditions of the building and site.

Although the building's water and heat have been turned off, insurance and electricity costs are roughly $15,000 a year, FWCS officials said in February. The electricity powers a security system.

The property was listed through BND Commercial, which advertised parking capacity for at least 290 vehicles and, among other features, its proximity to both Interstate 69 – about 5 miles – and Fort Wayne International Airport, about 3 miles.

BND indicated that the two-story, nearly 226,500-square-foot building sits on nearly 16 acres and must be bought with an adjacent 12-acre parcel.

Appointment-only tours were available for potential buyers in the spring.

Hollingsworth had limited information about the offers Wednesday.

“I don't know anything more about it than you do,” she said.

The staff will review the proposals and make a recommendation to the seven-member board, she said.

A final offer is expected to go to the board for approval Aug. 28, Stockman said.