Ironwood to consider purchase of former elementary school

By ZACHARY MARANO

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Ironwood — The Ironwood City Commission is holding a special meeting at 4 p.m. today to consider a resolution to purchase the property on 108 E. Arch St., the location of the former Sleight Elementary School.

According to the resolution, city staff identified the parcel as a potential source of affordable housing. City staff recommend purchase of the property so a private developer can convert the property into rental units.

The city recognizes the lack of affordable housing in the area as a serious problem, the resolution says.

The resolution would purchase the property and approve a buy and sell agreement at $180,000 to the property owner. The resolution says that funding for the property purchase price plus closing costs will be appropriated from the city’s housing development fund.

Sleight Elementary School was closed following the 2013-2014 school year. All elementary students in the district were moved to Luther L. Wright K-12 in Ironwood.

Ironwood Area Schools continued to use the building for their Head Start and alternative education programs.

The Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District also rented the building from the Ironwood school district for two of its special education programs.

In September 2018, the building’s fire alarm system failed a safety inspection and the Ironwood Area Schools opted to sell the property, and the existing education programs within were moved.

The current owner is Schuler Investments.

The special meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers on the second floor of the Ironwood Memorial Building.