Warren Easton Charter High School may be able to acquire an empty lot next to the school for about $2 million, officials said at a board meeting Wednesday night.

The Canal Street property, which would provide the school with green space and parking, was appraised at $1.2 million, according to facilities consultant Ken Ducote.

Another interested party has offered $2 million, the property owner advised the Orleans Parish School Board and the Warren Easton Charter Foundation. Board President David Garland said the school has a good chance of getting it for not much more than that.

“The owner’s interested in us having it because they said they’d give it to us for just $10,000 over the asking price,” Garland told the board.

The parish school board can not pay more than the appraised value of a property, meaning that the Easton foundation would have to come up with the extra $800,000 or so, Ducote said.

“The foundation would come up with a way to fill in the gap if we can,” Garland said, adding that the mix of public and private funding would add “further complications.”

The matter will be discussed today at the parish school board’s Property Committee Meeting. The committee was expected to recommend that the foundation be allowed to help purchase the lot.

“We’re doing due diligence,” Garland told his board.

Along with Garland, board members Charles Petrey, Brenda Christiansen, David Benelli, Billy Hatchett and John Broussard were present, as was ex-officio member Arthur Hardy.

Della Hasselle

Della Hasselle, a freelance journalist and producer, reports environmental and criminal justice stories for The Lens. A graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative...