Mayor LaFrance, ASD partner on plan to sell Westpark property for housing development & use funds to support school district

Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and the Anchorage School District (ASD) are working to transfer ownership and management of three ASD-controlled properties to the Municipality: The former Campbell STEM Elementary and Abbott Loop Elementary sites, as well as the 53.8-acre Westpark property.

The elementary schools were closed earlier this year as part of ASD's rightsizing initiative in response to declining enrollment and school district budget shortfalls. ASD originally acquired and held the Westpark property for a future school site, which is no longer needed due to enrollment trends.

To help fund public education, Mayor LaFrance is proposing to sell the Westpark parcels for housing development and to transfer the sale proceeds back to the school district.

"Selling the Westpark land is a win-win. It not only allows us to help fund our schools, but it opens unused public land for housing development our community urgently needs," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "New housing adds to our tax base, easing the tax burden on existing property owners - and it and moves us closer to my goal of 10,000 homes in ten years."

The Anchorage School Board is set to consider ASD Memorandum #047, which recommends turning over the Westpark property to the Municipality as part of a package with the elementary schools.

"We have a responsibility to continually ask whether the way we use our facilities and property best serves students," said Anchorage School District Superintendent Dr. Jharrett Bryantt. "As enrollment and our needs change, responsible stewardship means making thoughtful decisions about assets we no longer need and finding opportunities to put those resources back toward students and classrooms. We appreciate the Municipality's partnership in helping us do that."

"The School Board has a responsibility to meet the needs of students today while also making decisions that support a sustainable school system for the future," said Anchorage School Board President Carl Jacobs. "When property is no longer needed to serve students, we should be thoughtful about how we manage that public asset and whether it can create greater value for our schools and our community. This partnership gives us an opportunity to do both."

The plan for each property is outlined below:

• Westpark property: Mayor LaFrance has submittedAssembly Resolution 2026-292 for Tuesday's agenda. If approved, this resolution declares the Municipality's intent to sell the land for housing development and direct the sale proceeds to ASD. After the Assembly approves the intent resolution and ASD formally declares the property excess, the Municipality would sell the parcel for housing development and return the sale proceeds to ASD.
• Campbell STEM Elementary: This summer, the Municipality put out a request for information (RFI) to gather neighborhood and community input on potential future uses for the building. Assembly member Erin Baldwin Day and Mayor LaFrance hosted a public meeting last month to discuss the RFI responses and gather more community feedback. The Municipality is now developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next phase.
• Abbott Loop Elementary: ASD concluded the existing Abbott Loop building needs extensive repairs and maintenance to be safe and usable. The Municipality will accept the Abbott Loop lot after ASD has removed the existing building and prepared the lot for redevelopment. Mayor LaFrance and Assembly member Baldwin Day will conduct community conversations to gather input for future use of the property in November.

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Media Contact:

Emily Goodykoontz, Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
[email protected]
907-205-6683

​Corey Allen Young, Assistant Director of Communications
Anchorage School District
​[email protected]

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