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Trumbull School Building Won't House Decatur Classical School: Alderman

By Mina Bloom | July 1, 2015 5:59am
 Lyman Trumbull Elementary School, 5200 N. Ashland Ave.
Lyman Trumbull Elementary School, 5200 N. Ashland Ave.
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Jessica Rodrigue

ANDERSONVILLE — Bidding on the future of the old Lyman Trumbull Elementary School will begin soon, according to Ald. Pat O'Connor's (40th) office.

Though the shuttered school, 5200 N. Ashland Ave., has drawn a lot of interest from potential buyers and developers, O'Connor and community groups have managed to narrow it down to two possible re-use options: either a private non-charter school,or a condo or apartment complex with a theater component, according to a spokeswoman with the alderman's office. 

After the Chicago Board of Education puts out a request for proposals from people wanting to use the building, which is expected to happen either this week or next, the board will make the final decision on the new tenant, according to the spokeswoman. The board's request will "mirror" the re-use options that were approved by the community, the spokeswoman added.

One re-use that is no longer possible: using the Trumbull building to house Decatur Classical School, a West Rogers Park school that has been looking to expand.

According to a bulletin on O'Connor's website, the Board of Education rejected the idea, citing a lack of money needed to fix up the school.

"I remain supportive of the Decatur families that are looking for an option to expand their current school to allow for seventh and eighth grade, and I wish them luck in their pursuit of expansion," O'Connor said in the bulletin.

Decatur was also looking at moving into the former Stewart School, but Uptown residents objected to using money from an Uptown TIF district to move and expand another neighborhood's school. 

Trumbull closed in 2013 along with 49 other city schools that were deemed underutilized. Neighbors and preservationists have lobbied for preserving the building, which was designed by Prairie School architect Dwight Perkins and is considered an architectural gem.

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