Reviving Bryant Elementary: Housing or Homes?

0:00Kansas City Public Schools wants to revive the old Brian Elementary Building, a historic spot where construction kicked off in 1915 and closed its doors back in 2009. Right on Warnall Road, they're floating ideas like turning it into housing for district staff, building single-family homes, or even knocking it down entirely. Deed restrictions keep things tight though. Single-family homes, demolition for future schoolland, staff quarters, or keeping it educational all check out. But multi-family units, rec centers, neighborhood perks, or any retail spots, are off limits. Teachers are speaking up on the housing crunch. KCPS starting pay sits just over $48,000 a year, leaving folks like Carter Taylor scraping for safe spots under $800 bucks a month. She days the creative fix but hopes it locks in spots for educators long-term. Surveys paint a mixed picture. Timber feedback had 134 against staff housing and the same number backing single-family homes.

1:02Neighbors nearby split, too, with some loving the teacher idea and others eyeing houses to fit the block. The districts run three rounds of presentations, tweaking plans with community input each time. Proposals roll in until April 9th, setting the stage for a solid choice that ends the eyesore and boost the area. Local news, powered by AI, this is Kansas News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.