Oct. 22, 2024 10:15p
(WGTD)---The Kenosha City Council has given final approval to a plan to acquire vacant school buildings from Kenosha Unified for redevelopment purposes. The deal includes a controversial proposal to close a block of 68th St. between the former Lincoln Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School.
The half-dozen buildings were vacated as a result of the district’s downsizing plan.
The street closure will enable KTEC, a technology school that recently moved into the old Lincoln Middle, to extend its campus south to Lincoln Elementary, which will be demolished to make way for additional parking and student drop-off and pick-up lanes. The latter is designed to relieve traffic congestion in the neighborhood.
Many residents of the area aren’t happy with the street closure, which comes on top of the decision to turn Lincoln Middle into KTEC. They complained their input wasn't sought.
68th St. currently runs from Sheridan all the way west to Lincoln Park.
Monday night’s vote to close the street was 10 to 7, with Mayor Dave Bogdala urging approval.
A major goal of the school sites redevelopment plan is to create additional affordable housing.
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