During its July 5 regular meeting, the Oak Park Plan Commission voted 6-0 to recommend the vacation of a public right of way outside of Holmes Elementary School, 508 N. Kenilworth Ave. in Oak Park.
Paul May, a plan commissioner who is a member of District 97’s Facilities Advisory Committee, abstained from the vote.
In December, the village of Oak Park and the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education each agreed to the property transfer so that work on a Holmes addition could start before the 2018-19 school year. The school has recently experienced an increase in enrollment.
The Holmes School project includes a new two-story addition containing six new classrooms, and includes the renovation of the school library and the creation of additional small-group learning spaces on the second floor, among other features. Construction on the addition has already started and is expected to be complete by August.
According to the July 5 plan commission meeting packet, the public right of way the district looked to vacate was 66 feet wide (east and west) and 157 feet long (north and south). It formerly was a grassy area immediately west of the school and south of a cul-de-sac where Kenilworth Avenue terminates outside the school’s main entrance.
The Oak Park Village Board will make a final vote on the matter at a board meeting in the coming weeks.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
