The Central School property at 321 Elm Street has officially been sold to Zabka Properties, LLC. Today’s closing at Staton Abstract & title Co. in Chillicothe culminated a process that began two years ago when the school, which formerly housed fourth and fifth grade students of the Chillicothe R-II School District, closed its doors.
Since then, the Chillicothe R-II Board of Education had discussed various options regarding the future of the property. However, after requesting bids recently for the purchase or demolition of the building, the Board approved the sale of the property to Zabka Properties, LLC for the price of $31,500 during its regular September 17th meeting.
After signing the paperwork today, Superintendent Dan Wiebers said the sale of the property is good news all the way around. “This really is a win for the Chillicothe R-II School District and the community of Chillicothe,” Wiebers said. He explained that Zabka Properties, LLC. has plans to extensively renovate the building and create market rate apartments, which is a need the community has. Also, he said, the District no longer needs to pay for utilities to the building or spend taxpayer money to demolish it, which would have been a costly endeavor.
The property has been owned by the District since 1875, when the District purchased the property from James Love and Lucy A. Love, of Clay County for $2,000.
