BROOKINGS The Brookings School District will be putting the Fifth Street Gym up for sale.
In September, the school board voted to declare the gym surplus property and authorized an appraisal of the facility. Based on that appraisal, the districts facilities committee recommended demolition. During a meeting Monday afternoon, the board voted instead to enter into a contract with a local realtor to list the property for sale.
That vote was 4-1, with board member Wes Tschetter voting no. Earlier in Mondays meeting, Tschetter made a motion to tear the building down; that motion died for lack a second. Tschetter also made a motion to table discussion of the gym until next month that motion failed on a 2-3 vote, garnering support from only Tschetter and board member Keli Books.
There was never a decision to demo it. That was just the recommendation that had come out of that facility committee meeting, Superintendent Summer Schultz said. The motion that went through was to enter into a contract with Ryan Krogman to list the property.
She said at this point there are no plans for the district to invest more money in the gym before trying to sell it.
For the use that we have right now, I dont know that (investing in building improvements) would be necessary, Schultz said.
She said they do not have an asking price, but hope to have listing details finalized and voted on at the next board meeting scheduled for Nov. 12.
By the November board meeting, were hoping that well have most of that for them (the board) to be able to look at, consider it, approve it so that we can begin listing it after that November board meeting, Schultz said. Weve done some work and whatnot on it (the asking price) In that November board meeting, well have that for the public to know.
According to an Aug. 7 article in the Brookings Register, the city Park & Recreation Board discussed possibly buying the gym. At the time, they estimated doing so would cost at least $2.6 million in improvements alone, plus somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000 in annual operating costs.
Schultz said the district has not been formally approached by any prospective buyers.
We do not have any formal negotiations happening with anyone, she said.
With two new elementary school buildings opening their doors this year each with their own gym facilities the school district has little use for the Fifth Street Gym.
And thats really the reason behind it, Schultz said. If you look at the use of the gym this month, there really arent school district activities taking place. Theyre more community-based activities, and so that piece of investing and the deferred maintenance and the upkeep it just makes more sense for the district to put those resources into things that we utilize more on a district level. But our hope is that someone in the community or an organization will move forward and utilize that space, that facility for something in the community. Just what that is remains to be seen.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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