LW 210 Puts Land Meant for Future Schools Up for Sale

NEW LENOX, IL — Three parcels of land meant as the sites for future Lincoln-Way schools will now be sold off to bring in revenue for the cash-strapped district.

Lincoln-Way District 210 voted Thursday to seek bids for its 72 acres at 191st and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park, with a minimum bid of $4.5 million; 100 acres at 16462 W. Manhattan Rd. in Manhattan, with a minimum of $1.2 million, and a 78-acre parcel on West Smith Road in Manhattan Township for a minimum of $700,000. All prices were set based on recent appraisals, reports Chicago Tribune. Bids will be accepted until Feb. 15.

The parcels were part of a dream of a 5- or 6-high school district. But that came crashing down after years of deficit spending, and the district's landing on the state's financial watch list in 2015.

The school board this summer followed through with shuttering Lincoln-Way North High School as a measure tosave $5 million, and hopefully claw the district's way off the watch list. The land at 191st and Harlem was originally envisioned as home for that school, but complaints from parents about the busy intersection compelled the district to move the school further south, to 199th and Harlem.

Since then, the district has previously received several offers for the land, and it has been under contract multiple times. None came to fruition, however.

For sale signs will be planted soon, and notices will be placed in local publications. If minimum bids are not met by the deadline, Superintendent Scott Tingley said they can lower the minimum and start the process again.