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Friday, Apr. 24, 2009

Majority of old Bibb schools attract buyers

Several old school buildings will soon be out of the hands of the Bibb County school system since an auction drew buyers for three of four schools that were up for sale.

“Putting money into the (school system) general fund is not a bad thing at this particular time,” said Bibb County school board member Gary Bechtel, who says he’s thankful to turn over the facilities and pump money into the system’s account.

The vacant schools have cost the system to maintain over the years. And this school year the system’s revenues have been on the decline, with state budget cuts and less tax revenue.

Others in the community see potential in the surplus schools.

Both Redding Elementary in Lizella and Weir Elementary on Rocky Creek Road, which have been closed to students for at least five years, are being purchased by Macon business owner Ashok Patel.

Redding drew a $157,100 bid and Weir a $50,000 bid — about $57,000 more than the school system’s minimum asking price.

“There was an opportunity and I grabbed it,” said Patel, owner of a hotel, gas stations and Kunj Construction. “I won’t demolish the buildings and will refurbish them and keep the sentimental values of the schools.”

Although Patel wouldn’t disclose his plans for redevelopment until the closing of the sale is final in about a month, he did say he thinks those plans will be well received.

“It’s a nice idea for the community,” he said.

Over the years, the vacant Weir school had been a frequent site of drug and crime activity, and it deserves to be cleaned up and restored, one neighbor said.

“That school was the life of the neighborhood” at one time, said Thomas Troutman, whose family moved near the school in 1959.

The old Ballard-Hudson Middle School on Anthony Road, also auctioned last week, is in the process of being sold. It drew a successful bid last week of $220,000 by Whitby Inc. in Macon, according to the school system. That was about $70,000 more than the minimum sought. Clifford Whitby could not be reached for comment on plans for the building.

The other school up for sale, Hunt Magnet School on Shurling Drive, had no bidders on a minimum asking price of $200,000. School officials plan to hold another auction for that building May 19.

To contact writer Julie Hubbard, call 744-4331.