Ivywild Residents Excited By Sale Of School

There may soon be new life in the old school building that sits idle in the Ivywild neighborhood.

School District 11 announced Wednesday that the former Ivywild Elementary School was sold for $1,220,000.

The new owners, identified as Mike Bristol, Joseph Coleman and Jim Fennell, said they plan on moving various retail businesses and professional offices into the new digs. That includes Bristol Brewery, an architecture firm, a bakery, a coffee shop and other businesses.

One neighbor of the school is excited about the possibilities.

“There are going to be a variety of famous, wonderful, creative people here in the neighborhood that are going to put a new spin on an old school building,” said Lori Goede, who owns the Skyway Creations flower shop, which has been in the Ivywild area for the last 41 years.

Goede is glad a high number of crimes on South Nevada Avenue in the Ivywild area didn’t deter project leaders.

“I think (there’s) definitely a turnaround,” said Goede. “Any time you use a building in (a) new and exciting way, you’re bound to have better response from all the people here, including those who may not have been as proud of their area.”

Ivywild was designated as an urban renewal area last year. That will help with financing on the project.