PROVO — After 68 years, a land swap between the city and the Provo School District is complete.
The deal clears the way for the demolition of an elementary school and construction of three proposed projects — a new school and new park on Provo's west side and a proposed housing development just south of Brigham Young University.
In 1937, the city agreed to vacate a one-block stretch of 600 East so the school district could build Joaquin Elementary School. After the district closed the school last year and prepared to sell the land, both sides believed the streetwide strip belonged to the district, but a records search found that the 1937 deal was never finalized.
So the sides bargained this year until they agreed on a new swap.
The city traded its two-thirds of an acre at Joaquin for nine of 18 acres the school district owned in the Harbor Park area just west of Geneva Road near Utah Lake.
The trade allows:
The district to sell the Joaquin property to Arrowstar, which plans to tear down the old school and build apartment complexes.
The district to build a new elementary school on its remaining nine acres in Harbor Park, at about 2800 West and 1390 North.
The city to build a new park adjacent to the Harbor Park-area elementary school.
The City Council last month authorized Mayor Lewis Billings to work out a contract, and school district officials signed the agreement last week. The closing, however, isn't scheduled until Nov. 30, Provo spokeswoman Raylene Ireland said. After what happened in 1937, both sides want to make sure the deal is properly finalized.
"It's a win-win," said Greg Hudnall, Provo's director of student services. "The city is going to build a park out there. We try to go into partnership with the city so a park is built with every school. And that allowed us to sell the Joaquin property."
The district recently sold off surplus equipment at Joaquin in a public sale. Hudnall said it isn't clear when the wrecking ball will visit the new school, but it could happen soon.
Arrowstar agreed to pay $6.5 million for the property, and the district will use the money to pay off debt and upgrade some schools, Hudnall said.
There are still several loose ends.
For one, Provo District Superintendent Randy Merrill indicated earlier that some of the money from the sale might go to Provo teachers for a one-time bonus.
The apartment complex has a long way to go before it is reality because Arrowstar will need approvals from the Provo Planning Commission and City Council before it can build.
And residents in the Joaquin neighborhood want the city to replace the open space it will lose with the closing of Joaquin and construction of apartments.
The city has indicated it will attempt to make park areas at Farrer Elementary School more accessible to the neighborhood.
E-mail: twalch@desnews.com