“Any business deal takes time, and this took a little longer than we thought, but I wouldn’t say it was a struggle,” Mabry said. “There were a lot of details to be worked out by both parties. This is a wonderful Christmas present for the district.”
The property is at the corner of Dayton-Xenia and Ankeney roads on the east side of Beavercreek Twp., and is considered part of Nutter’s large Stonehill Village residential subdivision. In recent months, school board members had balked at the idea that the schools would be subject to design restrictions controlled by the development.
Nutter could not be reached for comment.
Mabry said the purchase agreement signed Dec. 24 is contingent on Beavercreek Twp. approving a new Planned Unit Development zoning application for the schools, which would free them from the development’s rules. There are also environmental, title and site survey contingencies on the sale.
Beavercreek Twp. zoning inspector Victoria Long said those contingencies are common for sales of this nature. She said once a PUD application is submitted, it usually takes a month or two for the township zoning commission and county regional planning office to review it before the township trustees will vote to approve or deny the application.
Mabry cautiously estimated it would take two years to build the schools if all the approvals come through, and he said the district hopes do start ground work and utilities this spring.
Beavercreek currently serves roughly 8,000 students with five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, all of which are at least 40 years old. Mabry said the district is using “every single space in every building” and has added portable classrooms to deal with overcrowding.
“Class sizes are still good now, but for continued growth, we need additional space,” he said.
Mabry said the original plan was that the new elementary school would be an additional building, while the middle school would replace Ferguson Middle School. But Mabry said discussions were ongoing about how best to use the buildings.
The school board said the parcel was purchased at $25,500 per acre, with the $1.275 million coming from the $84 million bond issue passed by voters in November 2008.
Doug Harnish, President of Public Sector Services for Gem Real Estate Group in Dayton, called the cost per acre “a favorable price for the school district.” While different uses draw different prices, Harnish pointed out that residential lots in that area can go for $50,000 to $75,000 per acre.
“This was not a crisis issue, no yelling and screaming, just a business deal,” Mabry said. “In cooperation with Mr. Nutter we have a good site. It’s a great deal for the schools and the seller, and we’re excited to move on and build new schools for the community.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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