By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
February 8, 2012

For the first time in two years, the public stepped inside Northeast Middle School Jan. 31.

In some rooms, desks and chairs filled the space in neat rows. Outside the library, a world map clung to the wall and a poster on the entrance read, “Thank you for creating opportunities and inspiring hope for a better tomorrow.”

Now, the only opportunities created at Northeast Middle are vandalism.

In some areas, vandals have left their mark, splattering multi-colored paint on the walls and floors or spray painting their initials.

Overall, Northeast Middle, 4904 Independence Ave., has remained relatively intact, said Elizabeth Rosin of Rosin Preservation.

Shuttered Northeast Middle is a result of the Kansas City Public School’s right-sizing initiative, which closed more than 30 schools to pool resources and balance the budget.

Northeast Middle, a mothballed site, shares an 8-acre plot with shuttered Thacher Elementary. Both are now up for grabs. Originally, the district placed Northeast Middle in the mothballed category to reserve the site for future use if needed. However, after evaluating population trends and learning about public interest in both sites, the district decided it could let go of Northeast Middle.

KCPS conducted a site tour of Northeast Middle for the first time Jan. 31 and led a follow-up meeting at North-East Public Library. A public tour of Thacher was not held due to its current condition. Vandalism and arson have taken their toll on the building, KCPS Repurposing Initiative Director Shannon Jaax said.

Asked to describe Northeast Middle’s architecture, Rosin said, “It’s a beautiful, Classical Revival building. It’s a very elegant architecture that was common in the first part of the 20th Century.

“It was a style that was used to celebrate education and celebrate the schools as a place of learning.”

Assets of the building include a sturdy, concrete structure, beautiful woodwork throughout, glass framed cabinets and wood framed blackboards, among others, Rosin said.

The auditorium features an “incredible plaster ceiling” with ornate details, she said.

Built in 1925, the 175,010-square foot building spans four floors and is one of the district’s largest buildings. It includes two gymnasiums, an athletic field, indoor swimming pool and commercial kitchen.

Classrooms on the first and second floors suffered water damage and vandalism has rendered the air conditioning units inoperable.

Public feedback

“I think it would be a travesty if that building was torn down for development. It’s a definite reuse building and I would fight any plans for demolition,” said Michael Stringer of the Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood.

Area resident Richard Plackemeier agreed.

“This is a good piece of architecture and it has huge potential for reuse.”

Attendees discussed several options for reuse and concluded that a mixed use would be best.

All agreed that Section 8 housing and social services should not be a reuse option for the site.

Favored ideas included senior citizen housing, a community center, offices for surrounding neighborhood organizations and other incubator sites.

Jaax recommended Northeast Middle be listed with a broker to spread the word that the site is available. Sites listed with brokers must be listed for at least 45 days, she said.

KCPS will then ask for RFI’s (request for information). RFI’s must include the buyer’s qualifications, project proposal, financing plan, among other information.

KCPS officials will then narrow down the RFI’s to the most viable plans and present those to the public during a community forum.

While Jaax said she had hoped for a larger turnout Jan. 31, the discussion was valuable.

“The discussion was really good and it was a great opportunity for community members to walk the site, see the building, its features, its condition, understand what the challenges are, but also what some of the great assets are in the building.

“The discussion afterwards was really helpful because now we have a game plan going forward about how we’re going to solicit proposals for the site and what the community is really wanting to see in those proposals.”