St. Joseph Approves Purchase of Colts Academy Building For Community Center

ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph has approved a purchase agreement with District 742 for the Colts Academy (Old Kennedy) building to use as a future community center.

The district approved the purchase agreement last week and is selling the building to St. Joseph for $2.3 million. Sales tax dollars will be used to buy the facility.

St. Joseph will become the property owner this year. District 742 will be a tenant of the facility and will not be charged rent. The district will need to leave the building no later than July 1st, 2017 or when it's no longer needed, but will need to give the city a 90-day notice.

The building currently houses the district early childhood programs that were moved to the area after the Roosevelt building was partially destroyed by a fire last year.

District 742 executive director of business services, Kevin Januszewski, has previously said the programs will stay in the building until a new location is found for them.

Little Saints Academy will continue to run in the building. The city will negotiate a lease with Little Saints to offset maintenence costs.

The city now has 45 days to inspect the property. More specifics on the community center will be discussed during future city council meetings.