School board approves sale of Rice land to developers
Source: desmoinesregister.com, by MEGAN HAWKINS
January 10, 2007
Despite an hour and a half of debate and 17 speeches against it, the Des Moines school board Tuesday night approved selling the former Rice Elementary School property to the Rice Development Partners for development.
Board members stuck to the same arguments they used Oct. 31, when they first voted to sell the land. They were required to hold a second public hearing and vote because the public notices the first time stated the wrong location for the meeting.
In the future, the 4.3 acres of land at 3001 Beaver Ave. no longer will be public land, but will have mixed-use buildings including residential, commercial and office space. Two people spoke for the developers.
The majority of residents, many of whom are affiliated with a group called Save the Green, spoke passionately against development of the spot, which has been a park since the old school was demolished in 2000.
They called it the heart of Beaverdale, their town square, and one woman referenced the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” calling the park a mockingbird it would be a sin to kill.
They also pointed to a plan sent to board members last Friday, offering $695,000 for the land, which neighbors would raise via donations and grants, even though the bid process was never reopened after its due date last August.
“Maybe this is the 11th hour, but isn’t it better to get it right than just get it over with?” asked neighbor Rob Shaffner.
Some board members said that they liked the idea of turning the property over to the neighbors, but that it would be unfair to dump the entire process thus far, and some questioned the legality of it. They added that the $11.6 million development will bring future tax dollars to the district.
If the board had voted against selling the property, the project would have gone back to a committee.
“Frankly, had Save the Green existed in May or June, you probably would have had my vote when we had the first public hearing,” said board member Phil Roeder, echoing the comments of other members.
But, he also said, “ there are rules this board abides by, and has to and will, and so I’m going to continue to support the development recommended by the advisory committee.”
The board voted 6-0 in favor of the development.
Connie Boesen recused, as she is related to the developers.
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