Renteria weighs in on Montopolis School

Yesterday, Council Member Pio Renteria addressed his constituents’ questions and concerns about the Montopolis Negro School. In a letter, he explained that while next week’s City Council agenda includes the proposed rezoning of the school, that item will be postponed and will not be moving forward. Instead, Item 56, which proposes buying the school, will be up for a vote. Renteria writes, “Item 56 is a resolution introduced by Mayor Adler, which I co-sponsored – along with Council Member Houston and Mayor Pro Tem Tovo – that authorizes the City Manager to negotiate the acquisition of this property for public use through funds from the Hotel Occupancy Tax that are reserved for Historical Preservation or by any other possible means. Beyond that, it includes direction to prepare a plan for restoration, management, and funding of the property as a historic asset and museum through a robust stakeholder process. … I look forward to implementing a community supported solution that will help us preserve this site of immeasurable historical and cultural significance.”