LINCOLN SQUARE — Intrinsic Schools has dropped its proposal to open a charter school in Lincoln Square, Ald. Pat O'Connor (40th) notified constituents Thursday afternoon.
"As many of you know, Intrinsic Schools was considering a location in the southern portion of Rosehill Cemetery for a school serving 7th through 12th graders," O'Connor wrote in an email.
"Today they informed my office that they are eliminating the Rosehill property as a possible site for their school," he said.
Intrinsic, which already operates a campus at 4540 W. Belmont Ave., had been under contract to purchase a four-acre parcel within Rosehill Cemetery (part of a larger 11-acre tract for sale), situated on Western Avenue at Balmoral Avenue.
The proposal drew immediate opposition from a coalition of North Side parents, community members and principals who rallied around the area's neighborhood schools.
An online petition had gathered more than 1,000 signatures to oppose Intrinsic's Rosehill plan.
"Big sigh of relief," one Bowmanville neighbor posted to Facebook in response to the alderman's message.
Amundsen principal Anna Pavichevich expressed her gratitude for the community's advocacy on her school's behalf, writing on Facebook: "Thank you to all who have supported Amundsen High School in our efforts to continue our dramatic growth."
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