Tenants urge Price City to ease transition after Reeve School lease approved for Pinnacle

Price City held a public hearing Feb. 26, 2025, on a proposed property lease for the former Reeve School building (parcel ID 01-0054-0000) and later approved a resolution authorizing the lease. Dozens of tenants who use the building for low-cost office space and social services spoke during the public comment portion, asking the city to clarify timelines and offer assistance with relocation.

Several tenants described the notice as abrupt. Reverend Dr. Connie Hillenbrand, who identified herself as a current tenant and metaphysical counselor at the building, told the council the 60-day notice “pulled the rug out of me” and left tenants scrambling to find affordable space. Hillenbrand said many tenants provide behavioral-health and pro bono services to low-income clients and that moving would disrupt continuity of care. “It was a very emotional day for me,” she said during the hearing.

Local housing advocate Grady Quick said he has received “constant calls” from tenants and has been working with the Fuller Housing Center to find space. Quick told the council he had identified a building that could absorb many of the displaced tenants depending on zoning, fire and safety compliance, and owner cooperation, and asked whether the city could help with compliance costs to make a relocation feasible.

Council members and staff said the city’s priority was to secure the building and that discussions about rent and utilities showed the property was operating at a loss under its current arrangement with tenants. Council members emphasized they wanted to assist tenants where possible. Council Member Willis said the city would work with tenants and noted the lease decision stemmed from a real-estate process that included Pinnacle School’s interest in moving its elementary program into the Reeve building.

Nut graf: The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to lease the Reeve School building to a third party and to pursue a related real-property lease; tenants and nonprofit occupants urged a more deliberate transition and asked the city for help locating affordable office space and assistance with compliance costs.

A written letter from Roberta Harding of Pinnacle Canyon Academy, dated Feb. 12, 2024 and read into the record by a council member, said Pinnacle was interested in leasing or purchasing the Reeve building to move its K–5 elementary program out of trailers into a permanent facility and pledged to host community events and expand summer lunch service if the school relocated there. Council moved to open and then close the public hearing at 5:27 p.m. and later approved the lease resolution (Resolution No. 2025-7) by voice vote; Council Member Chrisman moved to approve the resolution and Council Member Jesperson seconded it. The motion carried without recorded nay votes.

Council members repeatedly said they would attempt to work with tenants to find alternate spaces and suggested follow-up steps: staff will accept proposals from property owners and community partners for interim space, and councilmembers suggested the Fuller Housing Center and local real-estate contacts could be part of a relocation plan. No specific relocation funding was approved at the meeting.

Ending: The council passed the lease resolution authorizing the city to enter a real-property lease with a third party. Tenants and housing advocates asked the city for explicit next steps; council members directed staff to meet with interested tenants and community organizations to explore options but did not adopt a relocation funding plan at the meeting.