KUSD says it will swap sites with city, demolish former Lincoln Elementary and relocate Hillcrest to Wilson building

Kenosha Unified staff told the board Jan. 16 they have a near‑term land‑swap and redevelopment agreement with the City of Kenosha that will move ownership of several closed school sites and support redevelopment. Under the agreement the city will take ownership of certain vacated school sites, assume responsibility for demolition and remediation in exchange for sharing future redevelopment profits 50/50 with the district after demolition and remediation costs are paid; the agreement requires KUSD approval of the district’s portion.

One specific swap described in the presentation would transfer the Jefferson Annex site to the city and move the former Lincoln Elementary (also called the KTEC East site) into district ownership as part of a land swap. The district told the board it will commit to demolishing the former Lincoln/KTEC East building and redeveloping that site; district staff estimated the demolition and redevelopment work “in the range of a $1,000,000 project, all said and done.”

As part of the overall package, the district plans to relocate Hillcrest School from its current site into the Wilson Elementary building. Staff said Wilson’s building condition and controlled entrances make it “better suited to be a school” than Hillcrest’s current site. Staff and board members discussed community outreach and neighborhood concerns: district staff reported meetings with the former mayor and aldermen and relayed that most Hillcrest students receive transportation. One alderman’s concern about students walking in the neighborhood was addressed by staff who said about 10 students do not have district transportation and that caseworkers or DCFS will arrange rides for students not picked up.

Staff clarified that the district will bear the cost of demolishing and redeveloping the Lincoln (former KTEC East) site; other demolition/remediation costs for sites transferred to the city will be the city’s responsibility. The City has already approved its side of the agreement; the district said it will present the agreement for board action at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Board members asked for more information about estimates and community outreach; staff said the board will finalize reconstruction plans and that more details will come to the Jan. 28 meeting. No final vote on the redevelopment agreement or the Hillcrest relocation was taken at the Jan. 16 special meeting—board action was described as forthcoming on Jan. 28.

Clarifying details: the district estimated demolition and redevelopment of the former Lincoln/KTEC East site at about $1,000,000 and said the district will assume that cost; the city will assume demolition/remediation of other vacant sites and split net development profits 50/50 after costs.