By Kathy Feist
The Center Planning and Development Council held its final meeting before summer break on May 27. Co-President Joe Nastasi announced that the update on the long-vacated Paul Robeson Middle School at 83rd and Holmes would have to wait until the next meeting on September 30th due to the speaker’s lack of availability that night. Some in the audience groaned.
The meeting proceeded with presentations on The Daniel Academy expansion at 106th and Wornall, the city’s Home Repair Program and a crime update.
Paul Robeson School
September is a long time to wait for highly anticipated news. Therefore, The Telegraph reached out to Sean Pickett, the attorney for the Paul Robeson Holding Co. for the latest news.
Pickett revealed that funding has been secured and will become available in June to renovate the school property into a neighborhood youth recreation center. “The funds come from private equity, individuals who believe in youth sports,” said Pickett.
The investment will underwrite the cost of demolishing portions of the building and creating infrastructure, ground work and two to three multipurpose sports fields.
Additionally, KC Rugby Club has expressed interest as a long-term tenant, creating more weight to the dream.
“This is exciting news,” said Pickett.
The plans for the school, which closed 19 years ago, were first presented in 2018 and included a three-phase plan for both a youth recreational center and a senior living facility. But eventually the pandemic hit and the campaign to raise funds ground to a halt.
Over the course of time, plans have changed, the biggest being the elimination of a senior living facility on the grounds. “Our elder care partner is no longer with us,” explains Pickett.
Another change is the number of phases from three to four.
Phase One will consist of the demolition, infrastructure and field repurposing and expansion. Phase Two will consist of the creation of a community center, urgent care facility, and retail and mixed use spaces as well as new locker rooms.
Phase Three will see the addition of a daycare and more mixed use and residential spaces.
Phase Four will add residential and mixed use spaces as needed.
Pickett sees the center as a neighborhood hub with a possible coffee shop and wine options. “We will leave it for the residents to decide.”
The recreational center is geared for families in the Marlborough, South Tower and Center School District areas–the Troost Corridor.
“The investors are looking at this as a footprint for others like it across the country,” says Pickett. “This is the experiment.”
Daniel Academy
At the Center Planning and Development meeting, Jonathan Lee, Dean of Biblical Studies at the Daniel Academy, presented plans for construction of a new gymnasium with 12 classrooms and a soccer field. The nondenominational Christian school is located at 106th and Wornall, north of Notre Dame de Sion. (It was the former Mancilla building.)
Daniel Academy currently has no gym and must lease gym space from the Center School District. “This means we get left-over time, from 6 to 8 pm, for our students,” said Lee.
“That’s hard on our kids and families.”
Daniel Academy has seen growth in its student population since it opened at the location 10 years ago. Now at 300 students, the K-12 school has recently added pre-K and daycare offerings.
The school’s plans are to build a 36,600 square foot gym and class room facility east of the current building, a proposed recreational field, added parking, sidewalks and extended driveway off 106th Street.
playing field on their property at 106th and Wornall Road. Courtesy Kimberly Horn & Assoc.
Many of the trees, which hide the school, will be cleared, creating more visibility. This along with added lighting will create a safer environment, according to Lee.
A privacy fence on the south end and a buffer on the east have been added to assuage concerns by neighbors regarding homeless camps and outdoor sports noise.
Daniel Academy has filed for a Special Use Permit with the city.
Crime Report
Erika Storm, South Patrol Community Interaction Officer, reported that homicides were up compared to last year at the end of May, 63 compared to 55 last year. In the South Patrol division, the homicide rate was at nine compared to six last year.