Story posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Leyden Transfers Money For Plant Purchase
At a recent meeting of the Leyden High School Dist. 212 board of education, $10 million was transferred from the district's education fund to pay for purchase, demolition, abatement and other related costs for the Leyden Annex, formerly known as the Thompson steel plant in Franklin Park.
District 212 closed on the purchase of the plant located across the street from East Leyden High School (ELHS) last January agreeing to pay over $7 million for the property.
The transfer of funds pays for the building purchase and funds demolition, some environmental abatement and other expenses related to the project.
Assistant District Supt. for Business Affairs Tom Janeteas said the new property would be used for the benefit of kids so the expenditure of funds from the education fund for the property is justified.
Included in last Thursday's meeting was a public hearing, advertised in several newspapers, in which no one came forward to speak.
One of the main drivers in the decision to purchase the land was the need for more parking.
The district rented space for parking from Thompson before the sale. Losing that space would have caused major problems for the land locked ELHS, Janeteas said earlier this year.
Long-term plans for the site are still somewhat up in the air but might include new athletic fields. The immediate plan is to "flatten" the existing plant and create parking.
Demolition and abatement work might begin on the former steel plant as early as next fall or next spring depending on both weather conditions and the contract bidding process.
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