Mpls. schools reject proposals to redevelop Howe School

The Minneapolis School District has rejected the latest proposals it received to redevelop a shuttered school in the Longfellow neighborhood.

The school district closed Howe School in 2005. There have been several ideas offered for its reuse, but the district has never approved any of them, including the five bids received in the latest round of solicitations.

The district's Chief Operating Officer Steve Liss says in a letter this week to the community that some of the five included the loss of too much green space.

Another proposal, from a charter school in St. Paul, was deemed 'non-responsive' because it also included buying nearby Cooper School.

Liss said the district is now considering whether the Howe site should be used to house athletic fields for nearby Sanford Middle School. Sanford has gained enrollment in recent years and Liss said its athletic space isn't adequate.

The idea will be discussed further at a community meeting in late January.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.