Chicago District Nets $155,500 From Sale of Two Shuttered Schools
Chicago Public Schools has finalized agreements to sell two former elementary school buildings that have remained vacant for over a decade. The district is set to receive a combined total of $155,500 for the former Louis Daniel Armstrong Elementary located in the Austin neighborhood and the Ignace Paderewski Elementary in Little Village.
These divestitures mark the latest chapter in the saga of the city’s 2013 mass school closures. During that administration, nearly 50 schools were shuttered in a controversial move cited as necessary due to underutilization and budget deficits. The closures disproportionately impacted communities on the South and West sides, leaving behind dozens of empty structures that the district has been responsible for maintaining and securing ever since. The Armstrong and Paderewski buildings have stood empty since that time, contributing to blight in their respective neighborhoods.
The transaction has raised questions regarding the valuation of these public assets. While the sale relieves the district of ongoing maintenance and security expenses, the relatively low sale price for two large properties suggests significant challenges regarding the condition of the buildings or restrictive covenants on their future use. Critics of the district’s disposal strategy often argue that offloading public property at such prices represents a loss of community wealth. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns within these neighborhoods about redevelopment plans. Residents frequently object to privatization that does not directly benefit the local population, fearing that without strict oversight, the repurposing of these sites could accelerate displacement or fail to provide needed community services such as affordable housing or recreational centers.
