An article about the growing number of vacant schools in the Village of Kenmore and concerns over what to do with the buildings quotes Robert Silverman, professor of urban and regional planning in the School of Architecture and Planning, who said neighborhood schools are the cornerstones of communities like Kenmore, but empty ones are dreaded for the deleterious effects they can have on otherwise stable areas. “If residents don’t see someone occupying the building, or just making sure it’s maintained so the integrity of the structure is in place, then over time a building … can fall into disrepair,” he said.