Cartoon school deal helps town to retain its character.

John Schilp, managing member of Schilp & Co. Realtors of Chester, New Jersey, announced the firm brokered a landmark deal in Dover, Morris County.

Sig Schorr, executive vice president for Schilp & Co., was instrumental in bringing the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphics, the only accredited school devoted to the art of cartooning and graphics, and Walgreen Co., the nation's largest drugstore chain, together in a transaction involving the adaptive re-use of the former Dover High School.

Schilp & Co worked with Joe Kubert to create a way that he could best utilize the space his school occupies in the former, historic Dover High School, on Myrtle Avenue.

The property comprises the original building and a later addition spanning an entire block. The school occupies only a portion of the space. "We negotiated a deal so the older, historic section of the building will remain for Joe Kubert's school and the newer section will be removed to make room for the new 14,580 s/f Walgreens," Schorr explained.

Walgreens worked with the Dover Planning Board to uniquely incorporate some of the architectural elements of the school in its new structure in order to continue the property's historic significance in Dover.

2005 Associate, LLC, part of the Ferber Development Companies of Juno Beach, Florida, purchased the property on behalf of Walgreens and will oversee the renovations of the cartoon school building and "build to suit" for Walgreens.

Schorr helped Joe Kubert find temporary space for his school during its renovations. Transistor Devices International is leasing 10,000 s/f of space to the school on Route 10 West and East Salem Street in Randolph.

Schorr added, "The transaction is another win-win situation for the companies involved and the town. Walgreens will offer residents an easily accessible new pharmacy; the school will continue to operate in its home founded two decades ago."