Citizens from Midtown have said that Westport Middle and High Schools are symbols of and gateways to the neighborhood, and that their reuse could serve as the engine to inspire reinvestment in the area.
Posted by Mary Jo Draper
The Kansas City School District has developed an admirable public engagement process for the sale of 30 of its schools, including Westport High and Westport Middle Schools. The process began with a year-long series of public meetings that allowed neighbors of schools to weigh in on how they would like to see the schools redeveloped and reused. On August 25, residents have yet another chance to hear two proposals for the reuse of the Westport Schools and offer feedback.
Reuse Proposal Presentation for Westport High and Westport Middle School Site
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 9 a.m. to noon at Redeemer Fellowship, 3921 Baltimore Avenue
In my opinion, as we prepare to listen to the proposals and weigh them, it’s important to look back to the input residents gave during the initial public input process, and to make sure the feedback to the proposals builds upon what citizens have already said about the site. I believe that when we ask citizens to give up their time to come out to meetings and give their input, the way we can honor that is by making sure their input is actually used instead of collecting dust on a shelf of reports.
With that in mind, here’s what the community told the district about the site on April 16, 2011:
Participants indicated that both Westport Middle and High are symbols of and gateways to the neighborhood, and that their reuse could serve as the engine to inspire reinvestment in the area. Participants identified multiple reuses that would benefit the neighborhood including education (college extension, adult education, K-12 school, community arts/theater), housing, community center, multiple uses/organizations
Westport High and Westport Middle School Reuse Assessment
Aerial view of the two school sites.
Those offering feedback on the proposals can also see what the experts have said about the two buildings. The school district repurposing office has prepared a Reuse Assessment for each building. Here are the highlights.
Westport High
- Building site assessment: Westport High School is in fair condition, but because of its large size, it may be difficult to find a suitable reuse. The report suggests classrooms could be converted into single apartments or combined into double apartments. It suggests another use for the auditorium, gymnasiums and library. Finally, it suggests that retail may not be a good use because visibility from the street is not ideal.
- Historic assessment: The high school building is a good example of an early 20th century Progressive Era high school.
- FULL REPORT
Westport Middle
- Building site assessment: “The building is generally in good condition, but there have been some issues with water infiltration in the lower gym and broken pipes that have impacted the library.” The report says retail use might be a problem, but a mixture of housing and community services or office space could be a good option. The attached parking garage makes the building ideal for residential, office or post-secondary educational uses.
- Historic assessment: The high school building is a good example of an early 20th century Progressive Era junior high school.
- FULL REPORT
The market assessment for both schools say the buildings are centrally located in the heart of Midtown, have great access from both a vehicular and pedestrian perspective, and are within walking distance of the Main Street commercial district and the MAX bus line.
What thoughts do you have about the reuse of these two important landmarks?
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