Wednesday, June 20, 2007

City wants to consider alternatives to demolition of Sumner School

VIDEO:

The City Council has started the process to demolish a historic landmark, but says anyone who wants to buy Sumner School must "show them the money."

The school was at the center of the Brown versus Board of Education case and now, two groups want to buy it from the City.

Pioneer Group Inc. is one of them.

It hopes to renovate the building and put in 21 units of senior housing.

It also wants to build townhomes on the adjoining property.

"We would bring housing for seniors and also restore the historic piece of this structure. We think it would truly be a travesty to demolish this structure," said James McClinton of the Pioneer Group.

Community First Inc. is another group who wants to develop the area. They would like to use the building for a multi-purpose community center which would include a charter school, daycare , senior center and health services.

The group says it would also renovate the building and make it environmentally friendly.

"This is about a blighted neighborhood, children who are need of someone whose interested in them and we want to leave no child behind," said Sandra Lassiter of Community First, Inc.

The Community First group will make a presentation before City Administrators on Monday.

Comments

topcity_785 (anonymous) says...

man no that is in my old neighborhood ya'll just can't tear that down what are ya'll trying to do it was the ghetto back then and it still is so whats the whole point and we need to keep the neighborhood african american

June 20, 2007 at 11:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )