Commissioners authorize upset‑bid sale procedure for Skyland School property after weeks of community pushback

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on July 24 authorized publication of an offer to purchase county‑owned property commonly known as Skyland School and proceed under the negotiated offer/advertisement/upset‑bids procedure after extended public comment and debate.

Kirby Robinson, the county’s community and economic development director, explained the county received an offer from Infill Delicate LLC for $150,000 and opened the property for offers earlier in the spring. The upset‑bid procedure requires a 5 percent deposit and certified funds for any upset bid. The county attorney confirmed the existing offer of $150,000 stands on the table and an upset bid would have to be at least $157,550 to be valid.

The Skyland site drew a large public turnout. Speakers representing neighborhood groups, nonprofits and residents urged the county not to sell the property without a community‑led plan. Karen Cuthrill said Skyland is “a monument to black history, community strength, and educational excellence” and asked the board to “stand with the people who carry Skyland's legacy in their bones.” Several speakers urged the board to allow community groups time to organize and present alternatives to the current offer.

County staff described the Infill Delicate proposal as an adaptive reuse plan that would preserve and convert existing buildings into housing units: the developer proposed 35 dwelling units (10 units in the annex targeted at 80–120 percent area median income and 25 units in the main building as mixed workforce and senior housing) and a future phase adding eight senior units restricted to 60–80 percent AMI. Robinson noted that an upset‑bid process and the final sale instrument would not legally bind a purchaser to those specific uses absent separate deed restrictions or covenants.

After discussion about how much additional time to give community groups to prepare an upset bid, the board approved the notice to be published on August 11 and to proceed with the upset‑bid period following that publication; the action passed unanimously. Staff said the upset‑bid rules allow any qualified bidder to submit certified funds and restart the 10‑day upset period until the highest, last bid remains. The county said staff will arrange community engagement and briefings during the notice window.

Key figures and procedural details stated during the meeting: - Offer on table from Infill Delicate LLC: $150,000 (deposit received). - Minimum legal upset bid as stated by county attorney: $157,550. - Board set publication/notice date (to begin the formal upset‑bid process): August 11 (as agreed on the record).

Public commenters asked the board to deny the offer and allow community ownership models or community‑driven development; county staff said the upset‑bid procedure is a revenue‑based sale mechanism that preserves the county’s discretion to accept or reject any final offer.