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Property Reuse

The Future of Bennion, Hawthorne, and Mary W. Jackson

We are exploring the next chapter for three schools. Here's how we got here, who decides, and how to share your voice.

Share Your Input

How We Got Here

Enrollment Decline

Like many districts across the country, Salt Lake City School District has seen enrollment decline over the past several years. Shifting demographics and citywide trends left a number of elementary buildings significantly under-capacity.

Board Action

To responsibly align our facilities with current educational needs, the Board of Education made the difficult decision to close several school buildings. Bennion, Hawthorne, and Mary W. Jackson Elementary Schools are vacant, awaiting a plan for their next chapter.

Planning for the Future

The district is now exploring the best use of these three properties, and we want that plan to reflect what our community values. 

Who Makes the Decisions

The Board of Education Makes the Decision

The Board of Education has final decision-making authority over what happens to these three sites.

No decision has been made yet. The board wants to make sure community priorities shape the options it eventually considers.

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Provides Expertise

JLL is an independent real estate advisor hired to provide objective analysis, financial modeling, market expertise, and community engagement support.

JLL's work is happening in phases: reviewing site conditions and market potential, gathering community input, developing financial scenarios for possible reuses, and preparing a final feasibility report.

Our Community Helps Guide the Discussion

Community input is essential to this process. We want to hear from you, our community members, neighbors, and stakeholders. 

Besides taking our online survey (linked above and below), you can request to speak at a Board meeting or contact our board members (follow the link and click on their names to find contact information).

 

The district held three in-person meetings in September to gather community input on ideas for the future use of these three schools. Families, staff, and community members were invited to share their perspectives and ask questions about potential next steps for these properties.

For those unable to attend, the presentation from these meetings is available for review in both English and Spanish.

 

School Site Information

An aerial view of a commercial area showing a red brick building with a white roof and surrounding trees.

Bennion Elementary
429 South 800 East

The former Bennion Elementary is a 3-story structure totaling 64,181 square feet.

An aerial view of a large school building with a parking lot and grassy field, surrounded by residential streets and trees.

Hawthorne Elementary
1675 South 600 East

The former Hawthorne Elementary sits on a 5.5-acre site, and the building is 63,117 square feet.

An aerial view of a school campus with a large grassy field, parking lot, and surrounding trees.

Mary W.Jackson Elementary
750 West 200 North

The former Mary W. Jackson Elementary sits on a 5.8-acre site, and the building is 64,676square feet.

Share Your Input

You are invited to take a short survey to tell us what matters most to you as we plan the future of these sites. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential. No identifying information will be collected.

The survey is open through the end of September.

Take the Survey