The former Churchill Junior High School sits on a 13-acre lot, where towering pin oak trees cast heavy shadows over a massive plot of greenspace north of the nearly 90,000-square foot building.
The city of Galesburg acquired the property at no cost last year after it was vacated by the school district.
Residents near Churchill along Academy Street and Maple Avenue love their quiet, tree-lined neighborhood – and that greenspace.
“This space is beautiful. Just as is, right now, it’s perfect. The neighborhood loves it. Kids play soccer out here. We see our neighbors walking their dogs. We walk our dogs. It’s just a really nice beautiful area and it always has been,” said Gina Suhomske.
She and Chris Deligiannis canvassed the neighborhood talking to residents, then launched an online petition asking the city council to further evaluate the potential of the property before any action is taken to sell it.
The previous city council designated Churchill as the site of a proposed community center on a 4-3 vote late last year.
But the current council, seated in May, approved an ordinance authorizing its sale on a 5-2 vote.
The council rejected the one bid received for the property as of its last meeting, which was for $100.
But if there are other plans in the works to sell the property, the neighborhood wants to know.
Deligiannis said they’re concerned citizens who want more information – and involvement – in the process.
“We don’t want to see anything happen without the consideration of the community and the neighborhood,” he said. “What will happen here, we don’t know, but we want to be in the fold. We want to be considered and heard, and informed, more importantly. We want to know if something’s happening.”
The petition, which is nearing 200 signatures, says the property holds immense value for the community, not just for the greenspace but also for potential educational opportunities and economic impact.
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