Reuse plan for Westport High and Middle schools adds partner

The development team working to reopen Westport High School and Westport Middle School as a “community campus” has entered a partnership with a company that specializes in “co-working” facilities.

Sustainable Development Partners and Plexpod said they will work together to create a “shared economy” workspace at Westport Commons, beginning with renovation of the former middle school on East 39th Street.

Plexpod, based in Lenexa, provides in-house resources, equipment, training and other amenities for entrepreneurs and other workers who want access to business services while only paying for their personal space.

The shared-workshop concept is expected to be ready for occupancy in late 2016, said Chip Walsh, development consultant on the project. He said the group may be ready to take applications for the space in January.

The entire repurposing project covers about 12 acres and 360,000 square feet of space in the two buildings.

The plan, as presented in September, calls for the buildings to become a “community hub” for nonprofit offices, meeting spaces and training facilities as well as what the planners describe as “next generation” workplaces.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Reuse plan for Westport High and Middle schools adds partner."