WICHITA — The Maize school district this week approved the sale of more than 36 acres of school property to developer Marv Schellenberg.
The property, which is part of 280 acres the district purchased more than a decade ago, fronts Maize Road south of Menards down to about 34th Street by the entrance to Schellenberg’s Fox Ridge residential development.
“When we originally bought the land, it was always our intent to sell the frontage property,” says Karen McDermott, communications director for Maize USD 266.
The district built three schools on the property, which also has ball fields, but McDermott says the district didn’t want to build anything close to Maize Road.
The property has been on the market for about four years.
The sale price had been $1.8 million, but Schellenberg countered with $1.4 million to offset the cost of some dirt work he needs to meet drainage requirements.
About 25 acres of the 36 acres Schellenberg purchased are usable for development. He’ll use the rest for retention.
Schellenberg, who didn’t return calls for comment, has applied for limited commercial zoning for future commercial development.