FORT WORTH, Texas — An online petition from parents concerned about the construction of a Studio 6 Extended Stay Hotel adjacent to Basswood Elementary School has garnered more than 350 signatures as of Tuesday evening.
Keller ISD parents will get a chance to bring up their concerns to Fort Worth officials during a town hall meeting on Wednesday. It's taking place at the school on Clay Mountain Trail at 6:30 p.m.
“We address you as parents of Basswood Elementary to emphasize that the safety of our children is our top priority and is not subject to negotiation. We want to make it clear that we firmly reject the construction of Studio 6 and demand accountability from those who granted permission for its construction next to Basswood Elementary School,” the petition reads. “We are deeply concerned about the proximity of Studio 6 to our school.”
Keller ISD said in a statement to WFAA that they’re aware of the parent concerns and have been talking to Fort Worth officials about the construction of the hotel.
“We are aware of parent concerns regarding the construction of a hotel next to Basswood Elementary School, and Keller ISD leadership shares these same concerns. Since this has been brought to our attention, administrators have been talking to Fort Worth city officials about this construction, how and why it was approved in such close proximity to an elementary school without notice to the District, and what measures the city plans to implement to ensure the safety of our students and employees,” the statement read.
The school's principal Tony Johnson addressed the concerns in a Facebook post on Feb.13, It reads in part:
“I first want to thank all of you who have reached out to me with concerns about the business being constructed adjacent to our campus. Our administrative team and I share many of the same concerns that you do, and we have been working with Keller ISD leadership to open up additional lines of communication with the City of Fort Worth... This will be an opportunity for city officials to receive feedback from our community, in person, and for you to have your questions answered about this nearby business and what security measures the city has planned to keep our students safe.”
A Studio 6 spokesperson said they broke ground on the hotel this month and hope to finish construction by late 2025.
“We look forward to opening a Studio 6 Extended Stay hotel at 3044 Clay Mountain Trail, expanding the Studio 6 footprint in Dallas-Fort Worth. This extended stay property will serve as an affordable lodging option for the visitors at the multitude of medical facilities, universities and other corporations in the immediate area. We look forward to providing clean, comfortable rooms and great service at an affordable rate.”
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