Iowa City school board to discuss Roosevelt Elementary sale

IOWA CITY -The Iowa City school board Jan. 17 will discuss whether it wants to seek bids for Roosevelt Elementary School and what type of conditions it would place on the sale of the property.

Superintendent Stephen Murley is recommending the board seek competitive bids for the property, 611 Greenwood Dr., rather than use a real estate agent as initially planned. This process would give the school district more control over what is done at the site after the district sells it, which is a concern of the surrounding neighborhood.

A draft of the request for bids says the buyer would not be able to use the property for commercial or retail space or for multi-use housing like apartments and condominiums. The property could be used for offices and educational, religious and heath purposes.

The ravine on the site must remain undeveloped, according to the document.

Roosevelt Elementary is closing at the end of this school year and will be replaced by Norman Borlaug Elementary a few miles to the west.

Many permanent residents of the neighborhood, which is near the University of Iowa health campus, believe the area already has too many apartments, and they

fear the school will be replaced with even more apartments.