Roanoke school leaders breathe a bit easier after approval of Hu - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

Roanoke school leaders breathe a bit easier after approval of Huff Lane land deal

Roanoke City Schools leaders are breathing a bit easier after the approval of the Huff Lane land deal.

Roanoke City Council signed off on the $1.75 million sale of the property to a group of developers earlier this week.

The development calls for a pair of hotels and a restaurant to go up in the space where the old school sits right now.

The sale was key for the planned $1.8 million dollar expansion of Round Hill Elementary, scheduled to begin this summer.

The city plans to expand the school's kitchen and cafeteria, add a gymnasium, and relocate the school's playground.

Right now the school has so many students it has to start serving lunch at 10 a.m.

It's current gymnasium is actually located in a modular unit.

"Forty percent of the tax revenue from [whatever will be constructed at Huff Lane], forty percent of that will go right back to the school system as well," explained Roanoke City School Board Chairman David Carson.

Phase two of the project, scheduled to begin during the summer of 2014, will add new classrooms and expanded parking.