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Board weighs options after no bids on Herrick Park property; land bank interest reported
Summary
Trustees reported no initial bids for the decommissioned Herrick Park school and discussed next steps including relisting with a realtor, an auction, community lease, or working with the State Land Bank Authority; trustees expressed concerns about leasing and auctions and asked staff to follow up.
Board members heard an update that the district received no bids for the Herrick Park property and reviewed several next-step options to reduce the district’s liability for an unused building.
Superintendent Mr. Hilton and trustees said empty school buildings can become liabilities because of ongoing maintenance and the risk of damage. The board discussed possible responses: relisting the property with a local realtor, holding an auction (with or without a reserve), seeking a lease to a community organization, or working with the State Land Bank Authority to remove the structure and make the land available for redevelopment.
Trustees and staff exchanged practical concerns: leasing would leave the district responsible for building-related liabilities; an auction could result in a buyer that does not align with community interests; and demolition/abatement costs could be substantial. A trustee estimated demolition and abatement may be “around three-quarters of a million” dollars, a figure the superintendent described as a rough estimate that would need verification.
The Lenawee County Land Bank expressed interest according to the superintendent, and staff said the land-bank process could include demolition and re-listing for development; that approach could be attractive if the goal is residential redevelopment but would take months. The board asked staff to place Herrick Park on the facilities committee agenda for deeper review and to follow up with the land bank and local realtor options.
Direct quote (meeting): “Empty buildings can quickly become liabilities rather than assets,” Superintendent Hilton said in explaining the urgency to address the unused property.
No sale or transfer occurred at the March 10 meeting; trustees asked operations and facilities staff to return with firm estimates, possible reserve thresholds for auction, and legal considerations for leases and transfers.
