Marina
After more than 20 years of neglect, Kansas City officials are finally taking decisive steps to take over the long-vacant Paul Robeson Middle School site, which has become a blight in the Strawberry Hill / south Kansas City area.
The move could force an ownership change through receivership, clear tax delinquencies, and either restore or demolish the property depending on feasibility.
Background: The Decay of Robeson Middle School
The former Paul Robeson Middle School, located at East 82nd Street and Holmes Road, has been empty since its closure in 2004. Over the years, the building has suffered extensive vandalism, graffiti, broken windows, overgrown brush, and unauthorized access by squatters.
In 2018, the property was sold by Kansas City Public Schools to Robeson Holding Co., LLC, an entity associated with Sean Pickett. Despite promises and plans for redevelopment into a community center or residential complex, visible maintenance and improvements have failed to materialize.
Local residents have complained that the structure has dragged down property values, created safety concerns, and attracted trespassers and trash accumulation.
In recent years, delinquent property tax issues have compounded the problem: the owner purportedly stopped paying full taxes since around 2021 and as of summer 2025 owed over $130,000 in back taxes.
City Steps In: Receivership & Forced Ownership
Mayoral Action & Legislation
Mayor Quinton Lucas has declared the site an “embarrassment” and “blighting influence” on the neighborhood, and is pushing ordinance to place the property into vacant property receivership.
This legal tool would allow the city to override or sidestep the property owner and take control of the site to address maintenance, safety, and redevelopment.
Lucas is expected to unveil the full plan at City Hall in a public presentation scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
What Receivership Means
Under receivership, the city or a court‐appointed receiver can manage or even force a sale of the property, collect delinquent taxes, secure the site, address unsafe conditions, and potentially redevelop or demolish the building. In effect, ownership control is shifted to ensure public safety and community benefit.
The ordinance is already under review: it was read to the city council and assigned to committee, with further hearings expected in coming weeks.
Proposed Redevelopment & Challenges
Existing Redevelopment Plans
Despite years of delay, the property owner previously touted plans for phased redevelopment involving athletic fields, community spaces, residential facilities, or senior living options. Efforts were to include demolition, track restoration, and installation of soccer fields.
Pickett, the current owner, claimed a five-phase plan with an initial budget of $17 million aimed at improving the fields and breaking ground in summer.
However, neighbors say promises have repeatedly fallen through, with stalled work, vacillating timelines, and minimal visible progress in the intervening years.
Constraints and Risks
- The structural integrity of the existing building is uncertain given long neglect, vandalism, and weathering.
- The cost to renovate vs. demolish will likely be weighed carefully.
- The city must recover delinquent taxes and legal costs to stabilize the property before redevelopment.
- Community trust is low: local residents have grown skeptical of perpetual promises without action.
Community Input & Vision
Residents have expressed hopes for uses such as youth centers, sport fields, community gathering spaces, and safe parks—anything that brings active use and oversight to the site.
One local, Byron Bolden, noted that turning the site into something beneficial could uplift property values and local morale.
Key Facts & Timeline Table
| Item | Detail / Status |
|---|---|
| Location | East 82nd Street & Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO |
| Former Use | Paul Robeson Middle School (closed c. 2004) |
| Current Owner | Robeson Holding Co., LLC (Sean Pickett) |
| Years vacant / neglected | ~20+ years |
| Delinquent taxes owed | Over $130,000 (since ~2021) |
| Mayoral action | Ordinance for receivership and forced ownership change |
| Public presentation | Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. at City Hall |
| Redevelopment proposed cost | ~$17 million initial phase |
| Original redevelopment plan | 5 phases: fields, community, residential or senior living |
The long shadow cast by the Robeson Middle School vacancy is finally meeting a reckoning. With decades of neglect, unpaid taxes, and repeated unfulfilled promises, residents and city officials alike have grown impatient.
The shift toward a receivership process signals that Kansas City is taking action to reclaim the property, clear legal and financial barriers, and chart a new vision for the site—whether that be renovation, demolition, or entirely new development.
If executed well, this move could transform a blighted landmark into a renewed community asset, restoring safety, pride, and purpose to a neglected corner of south Kansas City.