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Council explores acquisition option as Oak Ridge 'releases' Westridge School property
Summary
Westfir leaders say Oak Ridge is moving to release the Westridge Middle School property and the council has expressed interest in touring the 12‑acre site to explore uses including relocating city facilities; staff will gather documentation and meet with Oak Ridge officials.
Westfir officials told the council Oct. 22 that Oak Ridge is preparing to release the Westridge Middle School property and that the town should explore whether to pursue the site.
Mayor Watson described touring the property with the Oak Ridge superintendent and the city’s grant writer and said the facility sits on about 12 acres. “For a building of this age, it looks to be in good shape,” the mayor said, noting parts of the building have been remodeled, the gym has been seismically upgraded, and other sections retain original construction.
Council members discussed maintenance costs and potential uses. One speaker cited a reported annual maintenance figure of about $130,000, prompting concern about the city’s fiscal capacity to take on full maintenance. Councilors suggested possible options including selling the existing city building to finance upgrades, leasing portions out to partners (such as Head Start or food‑pantry operations), or consolidating city hall, council chambers, and operations at the Westridge site to create a multiuse revenue‑generating campus.
The council did not commit to acquiring the property. Instead, members requested further documentation from Oak Ridge, a site tour for council members, and more detailed assessments from the superintendent and grant writer (Jude Anderson is the named grant writer the mayor plans to involve). The mayor said Oak Ridge staff signaled willingness to go to the next step and share assessments and reports; the council will take up any formal decision at a later meeting after review.
Next steps: staff will schedule a site tour and collect documentation and condition assessments from Oak Ridge and the superintendent’s team before returning to the council with a proposal or recommendation.
