Board hears tenants and residents plead for alternatives to disposing 4 Peaks site

The board's special session devoted substantial time to the future of the district's 4 Peaks building, where the administration said long-term maintenance and safety issues have made the site costly to operate.

Several public commenters and tenants urged the board to consider alternatives to immediate disposal. Debbie Yoder, a Fountain Hills resident who works with the food-preparation program at 4 Peaks, told the board she had hoped members would tour and meet tenants before concluding the building's fate and said the site has event and kitchen potential. MJ Yazidjian, who identified himself as chief technical officer of a local watch manufacturing company that occupies part of 4 Peaks, said his firm and other tenants have invested significant tenant improvements there and urged the district to obtain multiple bids before deciding that repair costs are "too expensive." He told the board, "get at least 3, 4 bids for a task before you say, well, it's gonna cost too much money."

District administration said 4 Peaks has repeatedly failed to produce net revenue, citing prior program partnerships that did not produce sustainable enrollment or rent revenue. The superintendent said the district lost money operating the building, that some tenants had previously been under contract to handle maintenance (EVIT/EBIT partnerships), and that the district has incurred significant repairs, including high air-conditioning costs this year. The superintendent also noted that a portion of the property has plumbing and fire-safety issues, neighbors have raised complaints about evening activity, and parking is constrained; those conditions complicate event rentals and long-term tenant strategies.

Board members explored options including short-term event rentals, conference or workshop spaces, higher market rents for long-term tenants, contracting out facility management on a percentage basis, or pursuing a site sale and using proceeds for district priorities. Several board members and residents said the district must balance neighbors' quality-of-life concerns with the district's fiscal obligation to protect funds for instructional needs. No final decision was made; the superintendent said the facilities committee's prior work and a Gordian capital-assessment report would be shared with the board and public, and staff will provide updated cost and scope numbers to inform the next steps.

The meeting did not include any formal vote to sell or transfer 4 Peaks; board members asked staff to gather competitive estimates, clarify past facility-use committee minutes and share an itemized project list and oversight plan if a bond is pursued.