FARNSWORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Renovate and expand Longfellow Elementary School: This was not a viable option due to the cost of renovating and constructing the additional classroom and student areas needed at the middle school level (larger cafeteria, fitness center, science classrooms, technology education spaces, separate band and orchestra rooms, and student support areas).
- District-owned land near Optimist Park: The land is adjacent to a mink farm, and the smell from the farm would not be conducive to learning. In addition, the entry and access to this land are not conducive to smooth drop-off and pick-up.
- Vacant Land near the District’s Administrative Services Building (ASB): While land might be acquired near the ASB, relocating Farnsworth over 3 miles south of the current building would cause significant transportation challenges and costs, as all students would have to be bussed to and from the school.
URBAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
It was a five-year process to review and vet all possible sites to arrive at the final recommended location.
- Donated North 15th Street property (former Polar Ware Company site) currently owned by the district: While this was originally proposed for the new Urban Middle School after site due diligence was completed, this site was determined not to be a viable solution. For further information, please refer to the next question.
- Former Aurora Hospital site: This site was determined by Aurora and the City to become housing lots prior to the proposed rebuild of Urban Middle School.
- Acquisition of properties to the east of Urban Middle School: There are more than 45 properties on the two city blocks directly east of Urban. The district does not have eminent domain rights and the cost to purchase these properties would be tremendous. The current assessed value of these properties is about 8 million dollars.
- Vacant land at Najacht Road and Enterprise Drive: This land is further north than the proposed site at Mill and Najacht Roads and would cost more in road and sidewalk construction. Without sidewalks, additional transportation would be necessary.
- Geele Ave. & Taylor Dr. (Field of Dreams): Not within the Urban attendance boundary. It would be a high added cost to replace/rebuild the athletic fields located on that parcel.
- Property that was recently sold to Froedtert (across from Field of Dreams): Located further away from the current Urban site than the proposed site. Extensive wetlands on the property.
Why not build the new Urban on the donated North 15th Street property (former Polar Ware Company site) the District owns? This site was determined not to be a viable solution by conducting a thorough review of the property including geotechnical, environmental, and wetland delineation. Specifically, the 37.8 acres of property contain a large number of wetlands that make site planning difficult. The water table is extremely high and would require the school to be built higher than normal, which would add costs to the project, and the location of the school on the site, in proximity to a plastics/chemical company mixing facility, all combine to make this site not the best option.
Why not build the new Urban on the corner of Najacht and Mill Roads? This was the originally proposed location to rebuild Urban Middle School, when the referendum projects were presented to the community. But, based on concerns gathered from the community survey and voiced at five community meetings, the Board decided against this location. Parents expressed concerns about traffic and safety, proximity to the school community, and impact on neighborhoods. Community members raised location concerns, environmental/safety concerns, and the desire to preserve a historic school building.
updated July 2024
