D-11 approves sale of building to developer

A developer who wants to restore the part of the original Bristol School on Walnut Street that’s still standing cleared his first hurdle Wednesday when the Colorado Springs School District 11 board approved the sale of the site.

The board voted unanimously to sell the property at 730 N. Walnut St. to Eddie Bishop for $281,500, what several board members referred to as a “steal” but something that was good for the neighborhood. The deal is subject to rezoning and financing approval, with an expected closing in May or June.

Bishop plans to restore the historic building and convert it to a retail center with a coffee shop/deli, offices and a community room.

In the future, he plans to build single-family brownstones on the other part of the lot. He emphasized that it would be a “sustainable neighborhood project.” He said he’s had two meetings with the west-side neighborhood organization and informal talks with residents who live near the property.

He estimated that the first phase of the project could be completed in 2011.

The Bijou School, an alternative high school, was housed on the property in recent years but was moved this year to the Whittier Elementary School building in a massive consolidation of district schools.

D-11 advertised the Walnut Street property and the 5,500-square-foot building for sale in July, with a listing price of $450,000. The final price was reached through private negotiations this fall.

Board member Sandra Mann, who served on the evaluation committee for Bishop’s proposal, said the plan has strong support from neighbors.

“Something needs to be done over there for the neighbors,” board member Charlie Bobbitt said. “I just wish we were getting more money.”

In other action Wednesday, the board:

• Adopted the outcomes and measures for the goals it adopted last summer. This is how the board will measure the success of the district’s efforts to reach goals such as eliminating the achievement gap and reducing the dropout rate.

• Adopted a revised policy that addresses nepotism, ethics and conflicts of interest.