KUSD, city reach redevelopment agreement for vacated school sites; Hillcrest to move to former Wilson building

Kenosha Unified School District staff described a multi‑parcel redevelopment plan conducted in partnership with the City of Kenosha for a set of seven permanently vacated school buildings and confirmed the board has approved relocating Hillcrest School to the former Wilson Elementary building.

Background and sale: The district said it marketed several vacated properties and sold one site — the former Saint Thomas Aquinas / Dimensions of Learning building — in September 2024 to Charlene Geesman, operator of a behavioral‑health education program (Beyond ABA). The district said it sought buyers for other former school buildings but that many parcels sit in residential neighborhoods with limited redevelopment potential without rezoning.

Agreement with the city: For the majority of sites, KUSD and the city negotiated an agreement in which ownership of the properties will transfer from the district to the city (the city will rezone to institutional/park or other appropriate classifications, create or expand tax‑increment financing districts as needed, carry demolition and redevelopment costs, and solicit developers). In return, KUSD and the city agreed to share net development proceeds 50/50 for most parcels; Jefferson Annex (the former eSchool) is an exception because it was part of an earlier property trade to obtain KTEC East / Lincoln site.

Why the city? Staff said the city has a shortage of property suitable for new housing and can provide TID tools and a development pipeline that the district cannot efficiently manage itself. The district said older school buildings on small residential lots rarely generate major private development value without city‑led rezoning and investment.

Hillcrest and Wilson: The district confirmed Hillcrest will relocate to the former Wilson Elementary building. District staff said Wilson is larger (about 1.7 times the size of the current Hillcrest building), was built as a KUSD school and has more modern infrastructure (multiple boilers, updated HVAC controls, recent capital work including window replacements in some buildings). The district will retain limited storage space at Wilson and will refinish or panel interior glass where necessary to meet safety and instructional needs.

Timing and process: Staff said most properties are expected to transfer to the city around April 1, though individual dates may vary. The city will issue RFPs for demolition contractors and developers; in some neighborhoods the city has already approved new or expanded tax‑increment districts (for example the McKinley/KTEC West neighborhood and the Washington neighborhood) to support redevelopment costs. Staff emphasized some parcels may take months or longer as developers and the city work through stormwater, zoning and historical‑preservation processes.

Questions from committee members included how developers would manage sites such as Washington Middle School (which the city may redevelop as part of a larger project) and whether the district would keep or transfer any funds reserved for those sites. District staff said proceeds will reduce the district’s budget gap and that city costs will cover demolition and redevelopment.

Ending: Staff said the partnership with the city reduces the district’s exposure to long‑term maintenance and liability for vacant buildings and gives the city tools to pursue housing. The district expects the sites to generate property tax revenue after redevelopment and said it will share net proceeds per the city agreement.