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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Residents have mixed reactions to St. Ambrose University's sale of the St. Vincent Center property to Assumption High School.
The Quad-City Times (http://bit.ly/1Dq0aan ) reports that the high school's board of directors voted Feb. 2 to purchase the property from the university, and the deal was finalized Tuesday for an undisclosed amount. Assumption High School plans to build an athletic stadium, practice fields, a softball field and additional parking on the site once it receives building permits.
Some residents are upset about the way the sale was conducted.
St. Ambrose tried to have the residential property rezoned last year so that it could build a 2,500-seat stadium, but Mayor Bill Gluba vetoed the $25 million project, citing opposition from neighbors.
"Neighbors can't help but think it's pretty sneaky that they're doing it this way," Draper's neighbor, Betzy McLeland, said. "It seems a backhanded approach to the residents here, because the city council voted against it. Assumption found a way to go around the council."
Others, like D'Dree Leibold, whose daughter is senior at Assumption High School, welcome the expansion.
"It's too late for my children to enjoy it at Assumption, but I'm sure it will attract more people to the St. Ambrose games," Leibold said. "I can't wait to see it all done."
Mike Poster, vice president for finance at St. Ambrose, said that the university will use the high school's future stadium for competitions, practices and other competitions. "We looked for the best use of the property, and we felt the sale to Assumption was the best use," Poster said.
The mayor says that he does not oppose the high school expanding its athletic facilities, but stands by his veto of the university's stadium plans.
"I wanted to protect the neighborhood from further university sprawl and gradual deterioration and devaluation of a major residential area," Gluba said.
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Information from: Quad-City Times, http://www.qctimes.com
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