HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – In response to a recent hearing regarding code violations at the historic Attucks High School, the City of Hopkinsville has released a lengthy statement regarding their role in the process and clarifying action that is being taken.
Built in 1916, Attucks served as the first public school for black students in the area during segregation. In 2024, local nonprofit Men 2 Be acquired the property, which had been vacant since the 80s. They have been fundraising to restore the building and create a community center; however, a roof collapse and ongoing code violations may result in the oldest section of the building being torn down.
Find full coverage of the Aug. 11 hearing on Christian County Now.
| RELATED: 100-year-old section of Attucks High could be demolished despite restoration efforts
City of Hopkinsville: Public safety guides city’s continued code enforcement action at Attucks School
The following was released by Amanda Brunt, Public Information Director with the City of Hopkinsville on Aug. 13 regarding the hearing.
The City of Hopkinsville is providing additional context regarding ongoing code enforcement action at the former Attucks School property, 712 E. First Street, following the August 11, 2026, meeting of the Hopkinsville Code Ordinance Enforcement Board.
Attucks School holds significant historical importance for generations of Hopkinsville residents, and the city recognizes the desire to preserve that history. The city also values the work Men 2 Be continues to do with young people and families in Hopkinsville and has demonstrated its support for that mission through ongoing partnership and more than $62,000 in financial support over the past two years.
It is also important to clarify that the City of Hopkinsville did not sell Attucks School to Men 2 Be. The property was sold to Men 2 Be by the Attucks Alumni Association. Claims that the city sold the property to the organization while knowing it had existing code violations are incorrect.
Since concerns with the property were first documented in 2024, the city’s role has been to work with the property owner toward compliance while fulfilling its responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Throughout that process, the city and Code Ordinance Enforcement Board have provided Men 2 Be with time, communication and opportunities to address the violations and pursue options for preserving the property.
However, flexibility cannot come at the expense of public safety.
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Code enforcement is public safety.
At the August 11 hearing, Code Enforcement, the Hopkinsville Fire Department and an independent structural engineer presented testimony regarding the continued deterioration of the original portion of Attucks School. The engineer identified significant structural concerns, including the loss of roof structure, deteriorated floors and structural members, bowing masonry walls and temporary wall bracing that was not engineered to safely prevent collapse.
The engineer further testified that the building was unsafe for individuals to enter and perform work and that, in his professional opinion, the existing walls could not safely support a new roof in their current condition.
Those concerns are heightened by continued unauthorized access to the property. During an August 5 inspection, officials found displaced fencing and plywood removed from building openings. The Fire Department also received a report from a grandmother concerned that her grandchildren had entered the structure and were playing in and around the wall braces.
That concern demonstrates that the danger surrounding the property is not simply a matter of code compliance. Families in the neighborhood are concerned about the safety of children who may enter or play near the structure.
Despite fencing, boarding and other efforts to secure the property, individuals have continued to gain access, creating risks for children, nearby residents and first responders who could be required to enter the unstable structure during an emergency. Enforcing building and property codes is one of the ways the city protects and cares for the children, families and residents who live in the surrounding neighborhood.
Unsafe Structure Determination Is Limited to the Original Portion
The city wants to be clear that the unsafe structure determination does not apply to the entire Attucks School complex.
The newer portion of the school, constructed in 1957, has outstanding property maintenance violations that must still be addressed. However, that section has not been determined to be an unsafe structure or imminent danger.
The current life safety concerns involve the original historic portion of the school, including the deteriorated west wing and related original construction.
That distinction has been an important part of the city’s approach. The goal has not been to condemn the entire property, but to address the portion that professionals have determined presents a serious safety hazard while allowing other portions of the property an opportunity to be brought into compliance.
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City Has Repeatedly Provided Opportunities for Compliance
The city’s involvement with the property dates to May 2024 and has included multiple inspections, notices of violation, meetings with the property owner, independent engineering evaluations and follow up inspections.
Conditions became significantly more serious in May 2026 when a roof collapse was discovered on the west wing. Following additional inspections by city officials and Gardner Engineering & Consulting PLLC, the structure was identified as unsafe. The city also installed protective fencing around the hazardous area to help protect the surrounding neighborhood.
Rather than immediately pursuing the strongest enforcement action available, city representatives met with Men 2 Be on May 26 to review the engineering findings, discuss the organization’s desire to restore the property and explain the steps necessary to move forward safely.
An unsafe structure citation was issued June 1, and the matter came before the Code Ordinance Enforcement Board on June 23.
Although structures presenting this level of risk do not typically receive extended periods for compliance, the board granted Men 2 Be additional time to:
- Meet with Codes and Community and Development Services to review the scope of work and obtain approval of plans.
- Obtain the required building permits.
- Comply with the established 45 and 90 day requirements under Section 33.189(F) of the City of Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances.
The purpose of that extension was to provide Men 2 Be an opportunity to present a professionally supported plan for curing the unsafe conditions while pursuing its goal of preserving the historic property.
At the August 11 hearing, Code Enforcement reported that the required planning meeting had not occurred and building permits had not been obtained. Men 2 Be representatives reported that debris had been removed, temporary bracing had been installed, and another professional had been engaged to evaluate whether the historic structure could be preserved.
After hearing extensive testimony, the board determined that an unsafe structure violation had occurred and assessed the minimum $350 fine and a $200 administrative fee.
Even with the documented deterioration and life safety concerns presented at the hearing, the board again exercised flexibility by granting Men 2 Be the full 90 day period permitted under the ordinance to cure the violation, including the applicable 45 day requirements for plans, approvals and permits.
That decision provides the organization another opportunity to demonstrate a lawful, professionally supported and safe path forward.
History Matters. Public Safety Comes First.
The City of Hopkinsville’s enforcement of building and property standards should not be interpreted as a lack of support for Men 2 Be or its mission. The city has supported the organization financially, worked with its representatives throughout this process and provided additional opportunities to address the conditions at Attucks School.
The city also understands the importance of preserving places that tell Hopkinsville’s history.
But support for an organization and appreciation for a historic property cannot override documented threats to human life. Enforcing the code in circumstances like these is not a lack of care for the community. It is part of the city’s responsibility to care for the children, families and residents who live around the property and to protect the first responders who may be called there in an emergency.
When structural professionals identify failing walls, deteriorated floors and instability, when family members are concerned about children entering or playing near the property, when people continue to gain access despite efforts to secure the structure, and when first responders could be placed at risk if called inside, the city has a responsibility to act.
The purpose of code enforcement is not punishment. It is prevention.
The City of Hopkinsville will continue working with Men 2 Be through the established process and supporting efforts that strengthen the community. At the same time, the city’s highest responsibility must remain protecting the safety and welfare of the Hopkinsville community.
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