Springboro schools, city reach land swap agreement on Easton Farm property

The city of Springboro bought 60 acres of the 103-acre Easton Farm property at 605 N. Main St. (Ohio 741), with 20 of those acres traded with the Springboro Board of Education for a possible new school. JIM NOELKER/STAFF FILE

Credit: Jim Noelker

Credit: Jim Noelker

The city of Springboro bought 60 acres of the 103-acre Easton Farm property at 605 N. Main St. (Ohio 741), with 20 of those acres traded with the Springboro Board of Education for a possible new school. JIM NOELKER/STAFF FILE

Development on the 103-acre Easton Farm property in Springboro is one step closer, with city planners reviewing the multi-family section and a land swap agreement reached between the city and schools.

Springboro City Council on Thursday approved the exchange of 20 acres of its 60-acre parcel — the largest of six lots in the Easton Farm development at 605 N. Main St. (Ohio 741) — with the Springboro Board of Education for two district-owned parcels.

“This is a great partnership with the city,” said Bryce Blanton, communications coordinator for Springboro Schools.

The school board approved the real estate exchange agreement at its meeting last week for the potential construction of a new school.

Development of the Easton Farm site has been debated for years, with various proposals dating back to 2008.

After disagreement between developers and Springboro City Council, a 2022 court settlement was reached to allow housing, retail and commercial development on the part of the land along Ohio 741, separate from the acreage the city bought for $7 million March 4 for a new park and possible school. The city issued $7 million in bonds to fund the purchase, said City Manager Chris Pozzuto.

“The agreement is contingent upon the district securing financing for a new building, and that will have to be by December of 2026,” Blanton said.

The city would receive the former Jonathan Wright property, about 6.5 acres at 40 Florence Drive between East Central Avenue (Ohio 73) and West Market Street. The second parcel is the 14-acre Clearcreek Elementary School site at 750 S. Main St. once it is no longer in use, according to the resolution.

The city would be responsible for the demolition of the Clearcreek school built in 1968, Blanton said.

However, if the district does not secure financing, the Jonathan Wright property would revert to the district, which also would receive technology considerations from the city totaling $175,000 in assets, he said.

Meanwhile, development plans for the Easton Farm property are moving forward.

The city Planning Commission at its Wednesday meeting gave a preliminary review of the Easton Farm Partners final development plan for multi-family residential buildings.

Lori Stein, president of developer Easton Farm Partners, previously previously said there will be 252 apartments and about 90 townhomes.

Construction is expected to begin for the portion along Ohio 741 in the first half of the year.

The 13-acre Hall homestead at the back of the property will remain.

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