ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) –– A once-vacant school building in South St. Louis is open again, bringing both excitement and new challenges to the community.
Gateway Science Academy has moved its middle school students into the Princeton Heights neighborhood at the former Our Lady of Sorrows school building off Kingshighway Boulevard and Rhodes Avenue, which had been empty for about a decade.
Superintendent Engin Blackstone says enrollment at the charter has been climbing steadily, up more than 10% year over year. That increase and the goal of growing STEM opportunities for students prompted the need for additional space, school officials say.
“It has been a dream for us to have a standalone middle school campus building, and that dream became reality,” Blackstone said.
The move allowed Gateway to split its middle and high school campuses, giving younger students their own building while opening more room at the Fyler campus for hundreds more high schoolers.
Neighbors say the change has brought new energy to the area.
“I think everybody’s really excited about having a school in the neighborhood again,” said Sylvia Smith, who used to live nearby.
But the excitement comes with traffic trouble. Residents describe congestion along Rhodes Avenue during pickup and drop-off times, raising concerns about safety and emergency access.
“Oh, this street is so congested, it’s crazy,” said neighbor Michael Mathina.
Gateway staff say they are aware of the issue.
“It’s a lot of traffic, but it moves as quickly as it can,” said Gloria Tate.
“We are continuously revising the process, observing, listening to our community, and making necessary adjustments,” Blackstone added.
Some local businesses see opportunity in the change. Lynn Terry, who owns Zoomies Café around the corner, said she has already adjusted her hours to open earlier for parents in the area.
“We tried to shift gears real quick. We normally open up at eight, and we started opening up at 7:30 when the school opened,” Terry said.
While Gateway is growing, the picture is very different for St. Louis Public Schools. The district is in the process of selling dozens of long-vacant buildings left behind by years of declining enrollment. Several other campuses remain empty following damage from the May 16 tornado.
For Princeton Heights, the new middle school means an old building is alive with students again, something residents say is a welcome change after years of quiet.
This story was originally published on First Alert 4.
