MLK childhood home to close temporarily for safety review

ATLANTA (AP) — The childhood home of Martin Luther King Jr. will temporarily close this month for a public safety evaluation.

The National Park Service announced that the home, part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, will shutter Wednesday, with expectations of reopening March 27.

Other portions of the historic site will remain open while the home is closed.

During the closure, the park service says the house will undergo a "comprehensive condition assessment" to ensure public safety and protection of the site. The home's second floor has been closed since August 2016 because of safety concerns.

The review will determine whether the second floor can be reopened and help set future preservation plans for the entire historic site.