Plan commission rejects Norman School proposal

untitled-(2-of-4)With one commissioner calling it a “round peg is a square hole,” the Kansas City Plan Commission today rejected a request to redevelop the Norman School into 64 apartments.

The commission had been asked to approve an Urban Renewal Plan, an amendment to the area plan, and rezoning to allow the historic school building to become apartments.

The Norman Schools sits an a 2 acre tract of land between Jefferson Street and Southwest Trafficway north of 36th Street. It dates back to 1906, and was sold by the Kansas City School District before it instituted its repurposing program.

City planning staff and the Economic Development Council supported the plan for what the developer called the Norman School Lofts.

Neighbors from the Valentine and Coleman Highlands neighborhoods objected to the density of the project, potential parking problems, and impact on single-family homes surrounding the site. Joe Rexwinkle of the city planning department said reuse of school buildings is difficult and the project could not be done without higher-than-normal density.

The commission voted 5-1 to deny approval for the plan.

“I’m concerned that this is not a good fit for the neighborhood,” commissioner Babette Macy said.

One Comment

  1. Rose says:

    Glad thats over

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