Sounds like Avondale Estates is looking to pull a “DeVry” on a large piece of unused property at the edge of its city limits.

Last week’s Champion Newspaper detailed Avondale’s plan to annex the remaining 9 acres of the roughly 13 acre abandoned Fenner Dunlop mill property into the city with plans of mixed-use development.

Like Decatur’s recent DeVry property annexation, there is no current developer for the property, but the city has a vision for the area that includes “pedestrian-friendly streets complete with sidewalks, crosswalks and bike accommodations. There could be a museum, a community center, community gardens, charter school and a residential area.”  (Avondale has a few documents on its website detailing plans for the property.)

The Avondale Commission votes on the project tonight at 7:30pm.

Having a guest in town last night, we opted for 1/2 bottles at Watershed over the commission meeting, but the AJC reports this morning that the DeVry annexation passed unanimously.  The commission also approved the change in zoning to “mixed-use.”

Money wise…

As is, the campus is valued at $13.5 million, generating about $222,000 in taxes for the city and school district.

With 550 residential units plus $10 million worth of commercial space, the land is projected to be worth $65 million and put more than $1 million into city and school district coffers.

This should be a very interesting project once it gets off the ground.  If it does indeed offer walkable retail to Sycamore Heights residents, one can assume that the desirability of that neighborhood will increase quickly.

Just a reminder: The city commission will finally vote on the DeVry annexation this evening.  There are so many materials for the meeting that they had to break it into two documents.

If you’re looking for a recap of the issues surrounding the annexation, click back to this post from a couple weeks ago.  The only change since then has been the school board’s approval of the project last Thursday and an updated projection of 30-60 students added to the school system as a result.

Completely built out, this property could provide up to $55 million in yearly revenue to the city.

Decatur City Commission candidate Kyle Williams tweeted from the school board special session on the DeVry annexation last night that the school board voted unanimously in favor of the DeVry annexation and that the new student projections calculated 30-60 kids from the project.

UPDATE: Apparently the AJC was there too.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the school board has had to move it’s special session to discuss the potential DeVry annexation until Thursday.  I assume it will be at the same time and place: 630p @ Westchester.

I’ve also confirmed that I was incorrect to insinuate in the previous post that the Superintendent was ready to support the annexation.  Just add it to the list of times I’ve been tripped up by legalese.

Thanks to Judd for the tip and to Asst. Superintendent Thomas Van Soelen for confirming.

UPDATE:  Meeting has been moved to Thursday.  See this post for more detail.

The CSD Board of Education will hold a special session at Westchester next Monday at 6:30p to consider their position on the city’s pending annexation of the large DeVry property that sits at the northeast corner of the city.

The only action item on the agenda was submitted by the Superintendent.

Move approval to support the city in the annexation of the DeVry property.

This special session and motion for approval are in direct response to a request from Mayor Floyd for the school system to weigh in on the potential school impact of a DeVry annexation.  While the school board’s approval carries no real weight, the recent uptick in communication between the two most powerful boards in the city demonstrates that they are actively attempting to bridge their long-time communication gap. 

As for whether the school board will go along with the Superintendent’s approval, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Judd writes in with confirmation from Superintendent Phyllis Edwards that someone from the city will be on hand to discuss the potential DeVry annexation at tomorrow’s Board of Ed meeting (6:30p @ Westchester).

Though there’s no agenda item, after taking a second look I noticed the DeVry annexation application is attached to the Superindentent’s note to the Board.

Judd wonders whether the city commission will ask the school board to voice its opinion on this annexation like it did with the large-scale effect last year.  He also notes there’s a Planning Commission meeting tomorrow at 7:30p where the DeVry land-use change and adoption of a regulating master site plan will also be considered.