Iowa City school district still seeking buyer for old elementary building

The Iowa City school board will try again to find a buyer for Roosevelt Elementary School.

The district is trying to sell the school, which closed this summer and will be replaced by a new building a few miles away.

The district sought bids for the property, 611 Greenwood Dr., but in June rejected the lone offer of $201,000. That was below the appraised value of $770,000.

The board put a number of restrictions on the sale to follow the wishes of residents near the school, who don't want to see it become apartments or something like a gas station.

A new appraisal, taking those restrictions into account, put a $300,000 value on the property.

At a school board Facilities Committee meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Stephen Murley recommended that the property be put back out for bid with the restrictions left in and a reserve price of $300,000, meaning nothing less than that would be accepted.

The board is to vote on the matter Aug. 21.

A majority of board members indicated they supported Murley's recommendation. Tuyet Dorau, however, said the restrictions “kill us” on the appraisal and said the board should consider what is best for the district.