West Plaza to see new plans for Swinney School

Swinney School at 1106 W. 47th Street has been closed since 2010. This MapQuest view shows its location just off the Country Club Plaza. A development group presented a plan for the reuse of the school as a medical office building last spring, and now the developers are ready to give the West Plaza neighborhood an update on their plans.

A development group will update the West Plaza neighborhood on its plans for repurposing the Swinney School later this month.

Kansas City Sustainable Development Partners asked for chance to update the neighborhood on plans for redevelopment. The local group includes Bob Berkebile, David Brain, Michael Knight, Butch Rigby, Lou Steele and E.F. Chip Walsh.

In May 2012 the group proposed reusing the former school as medical office suites. Neighborhood stakeholders said at the time they liked the approach, but they wanted to make sure there would be off-street parking so that the medical office tenants did not add to parking problems in the neighborhood. The neighbors also said they wanted input into rezoning of the property.

Swinney, at 1106 W. 47th Street, was built between 1915 and 1928. Historians said the building was a good example of a progressive era elementary school, although a 1990s addition may prevent its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Kansas City School District closed the school in 2010 and put it up for sale under its repurposing program for 30 schools. Under the repurposing program, the community is asked to offer input and help guide reuse of the buildings that will lead to a positive impact on neighborhoods.

The group will present its plans at the general membership meeting of the West Plaza Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Westport Road.

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