Drexel U. Eager To Negotiate Purchase of Closed High School Site
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Drexel University is among those considering buying the recently closed University City High School.
Drexel has been looking at possibly expanding the Powel Elementary School onto the grounds where University City High School now stands.
The Philadelphia School Partnership last year gave Powel a grant to plan an expansion, and Partnership executive director Mark Gleason says Drexel envisions building two new facilities, grades K-5 and grades 6-8, on the University City site.
And while the mayor and Council Council debate selling surplus school buildings (see related story), Gleason wonders why Unversity City High isn't officially for sale yet.
"The (school) district is in need of cash, is sitting on a valuable property for which there's a lot of demand," he tells KYW Newsradio. "I don't understand why that property isn't already for sale and why more substantive conversations aren't going on with Drexel and other potential bidders about buying it."
The city says University City High could bring $23 million.
