Hotel company raises white flag in battle against Keller ISD and parents

The long-standing dispute over a plot of land adjacent to Basswood Elementary School in far north Fort Worth appears to be reaching a resolution.

A spokesperson for the Studio 6 company announced on Wednesday that their franchisee has chosen to relocate the motel that was previously approved by the city months ago.

“The owner of the Studio 6 hotel at 3044 Clay Mountain Trail has decided to stop construction on this location. We look forward to working with him once a new location is secured so we can provide an affordable lodging option for visitors to the area,” the spokesperson wrote to NBC 5.

However, Basswood Investment LLC, the owner of the land, declined to comment on the matter at this time.

For weeks, the Keller Independent School District, along with many parents, had been opposed to the construction of the motel, which was planned to be situated just steps away from the school.

“I’m still not changing my position that this hotel, motel, or any type of hospitality facility should be built next to elementary school,” said Moraima Marrero, a parent of three students at Basswood Elementary.

The land in question had been vacant and commercially zoned for years before Basswood Investment purchased it.

The city stated that they had sent all necessary notifications to neighbors, including Keller ISD, before approving the motel project. However, Keller ISD claimed they never received such notifications.

The school district has been attempting to acquire the land from Basswood Investment. On Thursday, school board members will vote on two related items: whether to purchase the 2.22-acre property and whether to use their power of eminent domain to acquire the land.

The acquisition of the property is intended to ensure the future safety of the campus and enable the district to maintain the location of Basswood Elementary. Additionally, the district anticipates needing to expand the school to accommodate increased enrollment.

Negotiations between the school district and Basswood Investment are ongoing, and both options are on the table pending further developments.

Clint Schumacher, an attorney specializing in eminent domain, noted that while school districts commonly exercise their eminent domain power for legitimate purposes such as expansion, challenges could arise if the motives behind the acquisition are questioned.

Challenging the school district’s eminent domain proceeding would likely be a challenging legal battle for Basswood Investment and could potentially extend over several months in court. However, judges have the authority to review the actions of government entities in such cases.

The school board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, where these matters will be discussed further.