Chauncey Rose sale one topic tonight at Vigo schools meeting

Sue Loughlin, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
·2 min read
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Apr. 22—The Terre Haute Boys & Girls Club wants to sell the Chauncey Rose property at 13th and Locust streets to Sweatbox Gym, a sale that requires approval from the Vigo County School Board, according to Dave Friedrich, THBGC board president.

The Vigo County School Corp. transferred ownership to the club in 2012 after the former Chauncey Rose Middle School closed.

According to Friedrich, the agreement between the school district and club included a reversionary clause in the deed, and the THBGC would have to pay up to $144,000 if the property was ever sold.

"We're not selling the property for that amount," Friedrich said. The purchase agreement with Sweatbox Gym is for less than half that amount, he said.

The purchase agreement with Sweatbox Gym states that "the sale is contingent upon the school corporation approving the sale and waiving all or part of that contingency," Friedrich said.

He added, "The school corp. has to approve the sale in order for it to go forward."

The school district also has the mineral rights to the property, and both that and the reversionary clause have to be resolved as part of the sale, Friedrich said.

"We've asked them (school board) to waive it or whatever they think is appropriate," he said.

He added, "We've asked them (School Board) to consider giving us a break because we're in the process of putting over $1 million into the Meadows."

The Vigo County School Board meets at 6 p.m. tonight in the administration office conference center, 501 Olive St.

Asked about the purchase agreement, the district provided the following information Friday:

"A purchase agreement for the Chauncey Rose property will be considered by the board per the original Chauncey Rose property agreement between VCSC and the Boys & Girls Club."

The club now has space for its operations in the VCSC Learning Lab at 55 S. Brown St. The club, which is located on the west side of the building, has plans for a renovation project there.

Friedrich has previously stated the club was in the processing of trying to sell the Chauncey Rose property.

The site "has become financially very difficult for us," given the age of the building, he said last summer.

The club uses the building there that houses the Howard Sharpe gymnasium. The main Chauncey Rose Middle School building was demolished in 2013.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.