Suburban Chicago School District Moves to Hire Land Broker

The suburban Chicago Lyons Township High School District 204 is one step closer to hiring a real estate broker to help sell a chunk of land it owns in Willow Springs, reviving a process that stalled years ago amid public backlash and concerns about backroom dealing.

At a board meeting last week, district officials signaled tentative support for MoHall Commercial and Urban Development, the lowest bidder among three firms vying for the assignment, the Chicago Tribune reported. The broker would be tasked with valuing the property, marketing it broadly and identifying potential buyers, according to meeting discussions.

The district has been in possession of the roughly 70-acre undeveloped property for many decades, having acquired it in anticipation of the possible need for an additional campus. According to the district’s website, that need was determined unnecessary years ago due to enrollment projections. The district’s Board of Education wants any profit from a sale to make investments in updating campus facilities.

The district stopped short of approving a contract, citing unanswered reference checks. Chicago-based MoHall submitted three references as required under the bid request, but only one responded, with the others remaining silent despite repeated follow-ups. Superintendent Brian Waterman told the board he would push the firm to secure additional responses or provide new references before any agreement is finalized. The board expects to make a decision in February.

MoHall’s proposal came in at $45,000, with no set timeline. CBRE submitted a $90,000 bid tied to a six-month engagement, while Oak Terrace-based NAI Hiffman proposed a yearlong assignment for $120,000, the publication reported. Board members acknowledged the cost gap, but emphasized that credibility and process would outweigh price alone.

Transparency has been a recurring theme. Roughly three years ago, the district faced intense opposition after residents learned of quiet talks about a potential sale to an industrial buyer. That episode derailed negotiations and left the land in limbo, according to the outlet. The district rejected two bids from industrial buyers at the time, the highest a $55 million bid from Chicago-based Bridge Industrial, the community newspaper Riverside-Brookfield Landmark reported at the time. Board members said they intend to work closely with the Willow Springs community and keep discussions in the open this time.

Board member Kari Dillon said at the meeting that the selected broker should go beyond passive marketing, listing the property on a multiple listing service and proactively reaching buyers who may not be aware of the site. Vice President Jill Beda Daniels added that the broker will be expected to analyze market conditions and pricing trends, even if that means advising the district to wait.

Still, the district is feeling financial pressure. Aging facilities require costly repairs and upgrades, and officials made clear that a land sale could provide much-needed capital. No estimate yet exists for the property’s value, nor a timeline for a deal. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 2, when members could move closer to greenlighting a broker.

“We just need to get it marketed and not spend more money to decide if we’re going to do it or not,” Daniels said. “We’re at that point now where we do need some money.”

— Eric Weilbacher