De LaSalle Academy opening in Noonan school

BUYER: De LaSalle Academy of Fort Myers Inc. (principals: Bonnie Ross, Lori Moreau, Mary Katin, Vickie Gelardi, Jim McCaughn, Deborah Silver, Sarah Henry, Larry Smith, Karen Nathan and Steve Rolla), Fort Myers
SELLER: Noonan Elementary Academy Inc.
PROPERTY: 6401 Techster Blvd., Fort Myers
PRICE: $1.89 million
PREVIOUS PRICE: $477,800, October 1999
LAW FIRM ON DEED: Fowler White Boggs PA, Fort Myers

PLANS, DESCRIPTION:
The De LaSalle Academy of Fort Myers purchased the about 27,579-square-foot former Noonan Elementary Academy school facility for $1.89 million.

The price equated to $69 per square foot.

The 14-year-old property features 16 classrooms in a large main single-story building with an adjacent media center building. The property also included a gym, soccer field and administrative office.

The private school for students with learning disabilities purchased 5.26 acres on Daniels Parkway for $1.4 million in 2011 with plans to build a new school. That project was expected to cost $6.4 million to develop. However, when this existing school became available, the cost and time savings convinced the academy to buy it instead.

“We're doing a major renovation on it,” says Bonnie Ross, De LaSalle Academy's director of development and operations. “We're creating new office space and redoing the gym. We have a summer camp there now, while we are under construction.”

Owen-Ames Kimball Co. is the general contractor for the renovation, which is scheduled for completion in July.

At full capacity, the school can accommodate up to 140 students.

Eventually the De LaSalle Academy plans to develop a transition center on the Daniels Parkway property. That center will offer students post-gradation help in preparing for college or a trade school.