District 11 puts vacant land in University Park on market (Colorado Springs: low income, apartment complex)

[Vision67]

https://gazette.com/news/colorado-sp...f1a4c999d.html

"Colorado Springs School District 11 wants to sell a parcel of vacant land that was slated for a new school and has opened the process for public bids and proposals.

“It’s one of our available sites that’s really appealing,” said Kris Odom, D-11’s executive director of procurement and contracting.

Classic Homes in 2009 gave the district the 9.9-acre site in lieu of paying fees for schools.

The land is at 2112 Collegiate Drive in the University Park development, adjacent to Dr. Frank Hough city park.

D-11 is not planning to build a new school in that neighborhood, Odom said, and no longer needs the property.

This is the first time the acreage has come on the market."

What is the best use for that parcel?

What if the city bought it for a low income housing development.

After all, it is close to a bus line and with 9.9 acres they could probably build several 3 story walk up apartment buildings.

[Mike from back east]

The plot is surrounded by very nice SFHs. Just build more of the same and maintain the character of the neighborhood while leaving commercial uses out on Academy. Else make it a green space -- or a rec center if the city can find the money (hah!).

[Sonic_Spork]

HAHAHA...

I live very close to there, in those stucco townhomes just up Saxon from that neighborhood. I can well imagine the howls of outrage if the city were to even consider building low income housing there. The residents would lose their minds. That is a really nice neighborhood. Swanky homes. No way.

But since it's right by the park, what would probably work quite well is some sort of a community pool or rec center. Pool, hot tub, gym. I wonder if it would be possible for the City and the HOA of University Park to cooperate on such an undertaking. I mean, if they charged deeply discounted dues or day use fees to the residents of the neighborhood and much higher ones for anyone else, they could recoup cost pretty fast I bet. Lots of families in that area, and lots of grandparents with visiting grandkids and such. Put in a seasonal concession stand with ice cream and you'd make even more.

I've always thought I'd love to have a SFH one of these days but in a neighborhood with nice amenities like I enjoyed at my old apartment complex.

[LHS79]

I hope the city get more low-income housing on that parcel- similar to what Grecio Housing did at Broadmoor Bluffs.

The NIMBY's would be furious but again they would lose in court.

This is the future of Colorado Springs- the current city council will not be swayed by the NIMBY's.