KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After two decades of decay, vandalism, and unpaid taxes, Kansas City leaders are stepping in to take control of the former Paul Robeson Middle School.
FOX4 Problem Solvers help Strawberry Hill residents get the streetlights back on
Mayor Quinton Lucas is expected to outline the plan at City Hall on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Lucas said buildings like Robeson drag neighborhoods down.
“People shouldn’t have to live near squalor,” Lucas said. “There are squatters coming in and out. You see trash, you see lots of other issues. That needs to change immediately. That’s why you see the city taking strong action.”
On the corner of East 82nd Street and Holmes Road, the old Paul Robeson Middle School is hard to miss. The once-bustling school now sits buried under brush, tagged with graffiti, and scarred by years of vandalism.
Blue Springs dentist office reopening after school bus crash into building
The property is owned by the Robeson Holding Company, but after more than 20 years of neglect and mounting back taxes, city officials say enough is enough.
The impact stretches beyond the block. Working to sell a home in the area, Byron Bolden said the abandoned school is unappealing to home buyers.
“I’m from Kansas City, so I see a lot of this and a lot of the eyesores and whatnot,” Bolden said. “It would be a good situation for somebody to come in and lift up the property values.”
New to the neighborhood, Lane Johnson said he’s seen preparation for new construction, but nothing has come to fruition.
“They had the machinery out here no more than two weeks ago to tear it down and stuff, and something went wrong or something,” Johnson said. “So, then they pulled all the machinery out again.”
Classes canceled Monday at Washington High School in Kansas City due to gas leak
On Tuesday, Mayor Lucas will launch the city’s next steps using a vacant property receivership to take over Robeson. But whether the building can be saved, or if demolition is the only option, remains to be seen.
“A community center, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, anything with kids would be great,” Bolden said. “Something that puts eyes on things and makes people feel safe.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
