Church’s 5-year lease of Coolidge location ending
COOLIDGE — After five years of leasing the old Kenilworth School property to Calvary Chapel, voters will get a say this fall on how the Coolidge Unified School District can utilize the property going forward.
On April 13, the CUSD Governing Board OK’d a measure to hold an election in November so it can sell, lease, exchange or enter into a lease/purchase agreement on the Kenilworth property.
The Governing Board directed Superintendent Charie Wallace back in December to get more information from its attorney regarding selling the historic school property, which predates Coolidge, and whether, specifically, the district could give preference to selling to the existing tenant.
“If you remember back in December, representatives (from Calvary Chapel) came and asked about buying the property because their lease is going to be up,” Wallace said. “We cannot sell a property without an election.”
The roughly eight-acre property was appraised at $275,000 by Dennis L. Lopez & Associates, which indicated that the church use is probably the highest and best use of the property.
“We cannot give a preference to any buyer,” Wallace told the board. “You have a duty as the Governing Board to obtain the best price for the property.”
Currently, the district receives $2,700 per month from Calvary Church. The district spends approximately $430 per month on lights and general grounds upkeep. It is coming to the end of a five-year lease.
Board member Lisa Garrett pledged her support for the church getting the property while maintaining the obligation to do what’s best for CUSD.
“If someone comes in and says they want to pay $1 million, we have a responsibility to the taxpayers and to the school,” Garrett said. “But I’m 100 percent for the church owning that building. I just want you to know that.”
