The Planning Commission on Monday deferred action on a request by Dr. W.C. Helton to gain C-2 zoning on the old Brainerd Junior High School for use as a business incubator.
City Council members Carol Berz and Russell Gilbert spoke against the C-2 zoning as did Alan Richelson, who heads the nearby Belvoir Neighborhood Association.
Dr. Helton said he will continue meeting with the neighbors and will look into R-4 zoning instead.
He said there is continuing vandalism at the handsome school that was designed by famed architect R.
H. Hunt and which was last in use as the 21st Century Preparatory School.
He noted there had been much vandalism at the former John P. Franklin School in Alton Park. He said not a window has been knocked out after his construction crew replaced all the windows and found new uses for the school three years ago.
The former school administrator from Maryville said he has given new life to a number of other old schools as well.
He said he has no plans to tear down the school. He said from the outside on the front it will continue to look like a stately old school.
Councilman Jack Benson said of the school, "It's a landmark. It's beautiful."
The site is 8.3 acres and the building off Brainerd Road at Cherryton Drive and Tuxedo Avenue has 74,000 square feet of space.