The Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education approved the sale of two surplus properties to the City of Lakewood last week, ending a process that has taken almost two years.

The board authorized the sale of property at both the Vivian Elementary School and Emory Elementary School to the city on Nov. 13, pushing the process to potential closures in December.

While the Emory Elementary School, 1275 S. Teller St., has seen its fair share of attention due to the ongoing plan to flip the property to the Action Center for a new community building, the Vivian sale has remained uncontested.

In April, the Lakewood City Council approved the $596,720 sale of 2 acres at the former site of New Classical Academy at Vivian at 10500 W. 25th Ave.

Residents in the area fought to keep the land as a public park in prior meetings after the school’s closure in 2023. The city plans to do just that.

Seven other acres of the property will be sold to Carlson Associates, a development firm in Denver since 1973, for residential lots. The developer agreed to dedicate an acre of land to the community park purchased by Lakewood — culminating in 3 acres of public park.

The school itself was sold by Jeffco Public Schools to Carlson Associates for single-family homes. 

While residents initially argued against the idea when the schools were approved for sale by the board in 2024 due to the possible destruction of parkland already in use on the property, residents seemingly agree with the use the city eventually decided upon.

“This area has long been an important resource to our neighborhood, not just as a school, but as a recreational area and peaceful green space for all ages,” Vicki Saxe wrote on the city’s website when the sale was approved. “It also serves as a safe space for wildlife to pass through and allows these animals to access water in the nearby irrigation canal. While new housing is an important issue in Lakewood, it is equally important to keep the character and natural environment of our city in balance.”

“This is a fantastic demonstration of City Council and staff not only listening to and addressing community concerns, but of maintaining cooperation with potential development in adhering to the Vision of Lakewood as a community,” Glen Newell wrote.

The Emory Elementary School sale, on the other hand, has seen controversy since it was proposed at the same time as Vivian.

The elaborate plan goes as follows: The city will buy the Action Center’s current location at 8745 and 8755 W. 14 Ave. for $4 million. The nonprofit provides services, free food and clothing to those in need.

The city will then sell 10 acres of the Emory Elementary School property to the Action Center for $1 million. This includes the school itself.

The city will keep the rest of the property’s 7 acres. It will also lease the Action Center’s current building back to the nonprofit until it can finish renovating the school.

The process was halted by an injunction, though, with Anita Springsteen — an attorney and former Lakewood councilmember — filing a complaint last November claiming that the council discussions and executive sessions behind the sales violated Colorado’s Open Meetings Law.

The injunction was lifted following a trial in the beginning of November, leading to the City Council approving the plan with three unanimous ordinance votes.

Now, with the approval from the school board, the sales can proceed.