Ames Schools To Auction Old Middle School Site

By Kathy Hanson

 Ames Community Schools

The Ames Community School District will take bids for the purchase of all three parcels of the Old Middle School site, at 9 a.m. Dec. 7.

The District will follow an open bid process by auction, in Conference Room B, at the Educational Services Center, 415 Stanton Ave.

The land parcels are described below:

1. Old Middle School, 321 State Ave., (approximately 11 acres)

2. Former athletic fields used for Old Middle School, 205 South Wilmoth Ave.,(approximately 8.5 acres)

3. A 29-acre parcel on State Street immediately south of the Old Middle School and east and contiguous to the current Middle School property, 3915 Mortensen Road.

Sale Process

The District will follow an open bid process by auction on Dec. 7, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending when a final bid is received. Bids will be received in no less than $50,000 increments. The property will be offered for sale “as is”, without contingencies, with the burden for any rezoning resting with the buyer, and will be transferred by deed without warranty per Iowa law. The Buyer will have 180 days to remove the old middle school from the property, or ownership will revert back to the Ames Community School District.

The District will bring the final bid to the School Board of Directors to consider setting a public hearing date for consideration of the proposed sale. Closing on the sale of the property will be as determined by the parties, but no later than 45 days following Board approval.

Registration Required to Bid on Property

Potential buyers for the property are required to register for the property sale by submitting a letter with name and contact information, along with a letter from their financial institution stating that the buyer has sufficient capacity to provide payment for the property without contingency at closing of the sale. Upon registration, the potential buyer will be provided with an Offer to Buy Real Estate to be acted on by the Board following a public hearing on the proposed sale. The Offer to Buy Real Estate may not be modified except for completion of the blanks by the bidder. The executed offer must be received by the District no later than 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the District office and it shall govern the transaction. Registration must be completed by 4:30 p.m., Dec. 6, at the District Business Office, 415 Stanton Avenue.

Any proposed sale of the property is subject to final Board approval following a public hearing, in accordance with Iowa Code section 297.22. The Board of Directors of the Ames Community School District reserves the right to reject any and all bids or parts thereof, and waives all informalities and irregularities in connection therewith if the same are judged to be in the best interest of the school district.

Please direct questions concerning the bid process or the property to be sold to:

Karen Shimp

Chief Financial Officer

Ames Community School District

Phone: 515-268-6640