The schools, built in the early 1970s, are no longer used by thedistrict. A process was started in June 2007 to figure out what todo with the properties, with intensive participation by the localcommunities. The result was the desire to keep the properties aslearning institutions if possible, such as a charter school, andnon-traffic attracting other uses as a second choice, says PaulDonovan with NorthMarq. The properties are zoned asoffice/residential, he says. "There could be business uses, such asa data center, or some residential uses such as affordable housingor senior care," Donovan tells GlobeSt.com. "Retail is notconsidered acceptable, these properties are set deep withinneighborhoods."

The properties include the 51,184-sf Holland School at 1534 NESixth St., the 125,794-sf Franklin School at 1501 Aldrich Ave. N.,the 45,280-sf Putnam School, at 1616 Buchanan St. NE and the39,705-sf Morris Park School at 3810 56th St. E. The community,through a study created by Urban Design Lab, has decided that itwants the district to sell to owners that will keep Morris Park aschool, Franklin as a school or community resource center, Putnamas a commercial arts center or nonprofit, and Holland as a greendevelopment, high-tech business or educational center.

A sought-after price is not being disclosed by the district,Donovan says. The sites can be purchased together or separately. Hesays there has been some interest, including by a companyinterested in putting in a data center. "We've had some inquiriesfrom religious groups, and we expect to get interest frommultifamily developers," Donovan says. The district has 12properties total that are empty, and these are the first four to beoffered for sale. The other eight sites' fate is undetermined, hesays.