Burr Ridge District Eyes 3 Properties With Future In Mind: Official

BURR RIDGE, IL – Pleasantdale School District 107 is looking to buy three properties – two near the middle school and one near the elementary.

In an interview Wednesday, Superintendent Dave Palzet said the district is "looking to the future" with the purchases.

In mid-October, the school board voted to authorize the purchases. Palzet said the district is undergoing the due diligence phase and has yet to close on any of the parcels.

Two of the properties – a combined nearly five acres – are next to each other, southwest of Wolf Road and 75th Street. Across the street is the middle school.

The other parcel is part of Lyons Township High School's more than 70 acres, which are next to the elementary school.

More than six decades ago, the high school bought the property, which has become the subject of much controversy in recent times.

With the baby boom at the time, the high school was planning to build a third campus. But births dropped, causing enrollment to level off.

Palzet said the board purchased the properties to prepare for the long term. Officials expect increased enrollment, with new developments likely.

Enrollment has been stable for the last couple of decades, ranging from 806 to 855.

But that is expected to change.

The district's median age is 55, with 28 percent of the population 65 or over, according to the Census Reporter website.

Because of that, the district predicts that many older residents will move away in the coming years, making way for younger families with children.

Additionally, the high school is expected to sell the rest of its neighboring land to a residential developer, likely bringing students.

Earlier this year, Palzet spoke to Patch about a new townhome and rowhouse development planned for the northwest corner of German Church and Wolf roads.