The process of the Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville taking possession of an underused property adjacent to its facility on North 17th Street is closer to completion after the Noblesville Common Council approved to buy the property from Noblesville Schools on Aug. 12.
City attorney Michael Howard said the land will be conveyed to the city at a cost of $150,000, which it will immediate sell at the same price to the Boys & Girls Club. The city will received a small section for a right of way along the east property line.
“There is no risk, no cost to the city,” Howard said. “We will act as facilitator here and get the right of way.”
Howard said the money for the right of way construction was included in the Ivy Tech funding to assist the school in coming to Noblesville.
The Noblesville School Board started the chain of events at its July 15 meeting. Conner Elementary School, which closed in 1989 when Hazel Dell Elementary opened, is known today as the Conner Learning Center. The 7.16 acres at the corner of Conner and North 17th streets was used for several years for various education programs like Head Start, but has been vacant and in a state of disrepair for approximately three years. School officials said that in that time it has only been used for storage.
“The sale of this property has been under consideration for years,” said Supt. Dr. Libbie Conner. “Their kids are our kids, and this is a positive step for the community overall.”
The Boys & Girls Club will demolish the building at its own expense and build an addition to its facility on the land.
“Our mission is to provide high quality, affordable programs that best serve the children of Noblesville and this site is ideal,” stated Becky Terry, Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville executive director. “We are excited about the opportunity to expand our scope, adjoin with our Community Center to create a full campus, and remain in a centralized, accessible area of the city.”
As part of the plans, Howard said the Conner basketball courts also will be demolished; however, it will remain until construction starts.
“The parks department is looking for other opportunities,” he said. “You have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”
