City wants to consider alternatives to demolition of Sumner School
6:41 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2007
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.
Sumner School Timeline
- Historic building could be a school again (December 21, 2006)
- Sumner School Tour (December 29, 2006)
- School board to vote on charter (January 4, 2007)
- Sumner elementary has served many purposes (January 4, 2007)
- Red light to charter schools (January 4, 2007)
- Neighbors: Renovations to historic school beneficial for community (January 5, 2007)
- Sumner School up for sale or lease (March 12, 2007)
- Sumner gets another shot at becoming a charter school (March 19, 2007)
- City wants to consider alternatives to demolition of Sumner School (June 20, 2007)
- Sumner School plans vary, but all agree to avoid demolition (June 21, 2007)
- City Council considers selling historic Sumner School (July 21, 2007)
- Sumner School's future is with the Pioneer Group (July 24, 2007)
- Community First signs contract to buy Sumner School (October, 29, 2007)
- Charter school proponents meet to rally support (Dec. 27, 2007)
- Community First won't get to buy Sumner deadline (May 30, 2008)
- Community First pleads case to council (June 4, 2008)
- Council directs staff to extend contract (June 10, 2008)
- Deadline passes for Sumner School purchase (Sept. 5, 2008)
- For auction: One historic building (Oct. 7, 2008)
- Sumner on the block January 22 (Dec. 9, 2008)
- Sumner School on the block (Jan. 5, 2009)
- Sumner School has new owner (Jan. 23, 2009)
- Ward Meade speaks out the potential owners of Sumner (Jan. 29, 2009)
- Council approves Sumner sale (Feb. 3, 2009)
"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
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Jun. 20, 2007 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)topcity_785 (anonymous)
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
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