Discuss items in the urban core outside of Downtown as described above. Everything in the core including the east side (18th & Vine area), Northeast, Plaza, Westport, Brookside, Valentine, Waldo, 39th street, & the entire midtown area.
The long-mothballed Scarritt Elementary School at 3509 Anderson Avenue is back on the open market as the Kansas City Public School District’s repurposing initiative is once again accepting redevelopment proposals for the aging school site.
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In February, 2024 the district re-listed the property with Block Real Estate Services seeking new development proposals. A walk through of the building is scheduled for Tuesday April 30th at 10am. Pre-registration is required with Christel Highland with Block Real Estate Services, chighland@blockllc.com.For more information on the project or to submit a new proposal, visit the KCPS repurposing web site at: https://www.kcpublicschools.org/about/r ... /scarritt.
KCPSD is considering converting the Bryant School in Brookside into apartments for teachers.
A severe housing shortage, soaring home prices and the highest interest rates since the Great Recession are making it extraordinarily difficult for many to afford a home.
Teachers are no exception.
In response, Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) has proposed repurposing the closed and mothballed Bryant School building (319 Westover Road) as teacher apartments. The public is encouraged to submit feedback via an online survey by May 17.
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I like the idea of creating affordable housing for teachers as a re-use for these buildings. The Bryant School proposal would be a slam dunk in my opinion. Great location and great re-use. It could be the template for other such development within the KCPS and some of their buildings they have mothballed. Would be cool if the KCPS could also derive some revenue from the income generated as well.
FangKC wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 5:30 am
KCPSD is considering converting the Bryant School in Brookside into apartments for teachers.
A severe housing shortage, soaring home prices and the highest interest rates since the Great Recession are making it extraordinarily difficult for many to afford a home.
Teachers are no exception.
In response, Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) has proposed repurposing the closed and mothballed Bryant School building (319 Westover Road) as teacher apartments. The public is encouraged to submit feedback via an online survey by May 17.
...
Smart money says it will be demolished and sit vacant for a quarter century at least. That was actually one of the preference choices on the survey they sent to the neighborhood.
"Pondering teacher housing" is an apt description. I'm happy they are getting a conversation going, but it is clear that there is a ton of work to do to make anything happen, not the least of which is trying to get out from under a deed restriction requiring most of the site to be used only as either a school or as single-family housing. Second would be getting the school on the national register so historic tax credits could be used.
Also, they tossed out the idea that rent should be "$800 or less" because that is what young teachers told them they could afford. I think the school district is not going to find any developers who can re-develop that school, only rent to teachers or admin staff, and keep rents under $800. Even with 100% tax abatement and historic tax credits. Also, managing a 27- to 40-unit building is far from cost efficient. So I'm worried the school district isn't realistic about what teacher housing would take from a financial standpoint.
I think the site would work best as a Kirkwood-like mix of townhomes and maybe small condo buildings. Make them for-sale for people who want to downsize from their 4,000+ SF houses but stay in the neighborhood they love. But that deed restriction is a pesky obstacle. But the neighborhood needs anything except single-family homes.
chingon wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 12:48 pm
Smart money says it will be demolished and sit vacant for a quarter century at least. That was actually one of the preference choices on the survey they sent to the neighborhood.
Somehow I missed that survey. Would be a shame to tear it down. Beautiful building but a bit of a nuisance since it's not in use. Would be nice if they could turn the playground into a park, or an off-leash dog park. And reconnect Central Street.
