Jericho Bayside 6th Property
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2025 Update
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We want to give deepest appreciation and thanks to Kathleen Brown, Dr. Alveta Green, Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, Joash Shulman and Carolyn Weems. Because of YOU, we are able to be making this remarkable and joyous update!
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What a difference 9 years makes! AVCL and our community have watched, waited and worked with our school board and city council reps over these last years... patiently and quietly. And in late 2023, things started happening. VBCPS found that the Bayside 6th grade students were scholastically back up to speed and planned to either add a wing for them at Bettie F. Williams during their remodel or move them back to Bayside Middle School. With the latter option chosen, Bayside 6th grade campus would close at the end of the 2024/2025 school year.
Our D9 rep. Carolyn Weems received permission for creation of an ad hoc committee to discuss the future of the property. AVCL reps were included along with our school board reps, city council reps, school administration and various city department reps. We met quarterly during 2024 and 2025 and at our last meeting voted to recommend to the full school board body to gift the property to the city for a park.
Tuesday August 12, 2025
The school board voted UNANIMOUSLY to support the resolution presented to gift the property to the city specifically for a park for Aragona Village and our neighbors.
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Friends, we are now on to the next phase which will have our city council reps presenting a mirror resolution for the city to approve. Stay tuned for updates on the timeline to connect to our city reps.
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2016
NO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON JERICHO RD SCHOOL PROPERTY!
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This property gifted by John Aragona should become a PERMANENT NEIGHBORHOOD PARK for our residents in Aragona Village.
In 2016 Aragona Village Civic League accidentally stumbled upon plans that VB Schools was discussing and drawing up proposals to create multi-family housing on the property once it became excess property after moving the Bayside 6th campus. They colluded BEHIND CLOSED DOORS with the Community Development Corp (CDC) a desire to develop this 18-acre parcel (formerly Kemps Landing Magnet School and Aragona Elementary School)! Quick mobilization of Aragona Village Civic League and our community brought the plans out of the shadows and into the light! The project was paused....at least publicly!
Development of this property for anything other than a park is UNACCEPTABLE for our neighborhood and CANNOT HAPPEN! We already have 2989 homes!
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As the VBCPS plans now develop in 2024 to renovate Bettie F. Williams Elementary and move the Bayside 6th campus into the renovated Bettie F. Williams upon its completion, NOW is the time to make our voices heard!
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This property was GIFTED to the city and schools by John Aragona. In the deed it states for a school, not housing. We currently have one quiet park on Romney Lane that is only 1 lot in size and now has no playground equipment. Our Aragona Village Christ Presbyterian Church Park is on land owned by the church and leased to the city with no guaranties of remaining in perpetuity. We have no other land in our neighborhood for a dedicated permanent park.
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Our desire is that the property be transferred in a gifted or transactional capacity to VB Parks and Recs to create an open space Ability Park and recreation area for Aragona Village and our neighbors. This is after VBCPS completes using the existing school building.
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Check out the VBCPS plans versus our Aragona Village vision! Stay tuned and support us as we pursue this needed asset for our community!
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VBCPS plans discovered in 2016
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NOW...check out the vision of Aragona Village for the property!
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Contact City Council and School Board
