Sections

Neighborhoods

Features

Follow Us

NHI Newsletter

Some Favorite Sites

Government/ Community Links

Wrecking Ball Closes In On MLK School

by Thomas MacMillan | Oct 22, 2012 11:26 am

(2) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Melissa Bailey Photo The city has set a $1.5 million price for a proposed sale of a vacant Newhallville middle school to a charter school group. The deal got its first needed OK from The City Plan Commission.

Commissioners unanimously voted last Wednesday night to approve the sale of the Martin Luther King elementary school at 580 Dixwell Ave. to Elm City College Preparatory, Inc./, part of the Achievement First charter school organization. Achievement First plans to knock the building down and build a new three-level, $35 million, 75,000-square-foot charter high school for 550 students. The new building will house Achievement First Amistad High School, a charter high school in a leased space on Prince Street.

The property’s assessed value (70 percent of its estimated market value) is $2.016 million, according to the Vision Appraisal database.

The land disposition agreement next needs approval from the Board of Aldermen. And the project will need zoning relief from the Board of Zoning Appeals. 

The bunker-like MLK school, which totals 24,000, was built in 1968. The property is valued at $2,880,300 million, according to a 2011 appraisal.

Thomas MacMillan Photo Lisa Desfosses (at right in photo), Achievement First’s senior director of facilities, told the commissioners that the new high school will have 100 parking spaces and an athletic field. She said that Achievement First has been working with the local community and has come to an agreement to allow people occasionally to use the facilities after school hours.

Desfosses said the plan is to have the school built and open by July 2014.

Commissioner and Westville Alderman Adam Marchand expressed some discomfort voting on the matter since it was a last-minute addition to the City Plan agenda that he hadn’t had time to study. He said he was reassured that Newhallville Alderwomen Delphine Clyburn and Brenda Foskey-Cyrus are supporting the plan. The two women had submitted a letter supporting the deal.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the deal. It will next receive a public hearing in front of the Community Development Committee on Thursday, Oct. 25.

Share this story with others.

Share |

Post a Comment

Comments

posted by: Noteworthy on October 22, 2012  12:50pm

AF builds a new school for $35 million; the NHBOE builds a new school for $50 million, a 30% higher cost. Interesting.

posted by: Threefifths on October 22, 2012  4:44pm

Newhallville Alderwomen Delphine Clyburn and Brenda Foskey-Cyrus are supporting the plan. The two women had submitted a letter supporting the deal.

They have sold out to the Charter school scam.

Public Charter Schools Thrive on Corruption and Economic Turmoi.

http://blackagendareport.com/content/public-charter-schools-thrive-corruption-and-economic-turmoil


Charters Have Nothing to do With Community Control of Schools.

http://blackagendareport.com/content/charters-have-nothing-do-community-control-schools

Events Calendar

loading…

SeeClickFix »

Opening Day of Dirt Bike Season In Fair Haven
May 22, 2013 10:36 am
Address: 68-94 Pine Street New Haven, Connecticut
Rating: 21

Dirt bikes all over Clifton, Atwater, and Front Street this afternoon. Yes, we have...

more »
Leaf bags not collected
May 22, 2013 10:32 am
Address: 697 Elm Street New Haven, Connecticut
Rating: 2

Leaf bags have been sitting out at curb. please pick up.

Flyerboard

Sponsors

N.H.I. Site Design & Development

smartpill design