Cedar Rapids school board schedules ESC sale public hearing Jan. 28

Community members will have a chance to voice their opinions on the planned sale of the Cedar Rapids Community School District's former Educational Service Center.

At Monday's regular meeting, the district school board voted to host a public hearing on the sale during the Monday, Jan. 28 board meeting. The board will then vote on whether to accept real estate developer Steve Emerson's $771,100 offer for the property located at 346 Second Ave. SW, 353 Second Ave. SW, a vacant lot at 210 Fifth St. SW and another vacant lot at the corner of Second Ave. and Fifth St. SW in Cedar Rapids.

Emerson offered to buy much of the property in April 2012, with Maranatha Bible Church planning to buy the 210 Fifth St. SW lot. However, the process extended until Dec. 12, when Emerson signed a new purchase agreement, after the church opted not to buy the lot.

The main ESC building was heavily damaged in the 2008 flood.