Proposal would turn historic former school into ‘high-class’ senior housing

A developer wants to turn the former Alexander IV Elementary School into a senior living facility.

Dover Development Corp. has put together plans for an $8.8 million project at the old school located at 3769 Ridge Ave. If the deal goes through, the 60-unit facility could be open in summer 2018, said Ethiel Garlington, executive director of the Historic Macon Foundation.

Dover, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been involved in similar projects like Alex IV in which historic buildings are turned into senior housing. Suwanee-based Senior Solutions Management Group, which operates about 20 properties in the Southeast, would manage the development.

Dover takes “iconic, historic buildings and transforms them into high-class, high-powered senior living facilities,” Garlington said at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. “Particularly they’ve done historic schools and have a strong track record for that.”

Dover offered $225,000 for the building that the Bibb County school district sold to the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority in March for $350,000. County Commissioner Mallory Jones used $350,000 of his $1 million in blight bond funds for the purchase but would likely receive money back from the sale.

Some commissioners questioned selling the property for $125,000 less than what was paid. While Alexander IV, built in 1932, needs significant improvements, the land it’s located on is worth more, Commissioner Gary Bechtel said.

Some more cooperation between the school board and county may save money on other projects in the future, Commissioner Ed DeFore said.

“We could save thousands and thousands of dollars,” he said.

While negotiations continue, the price that Dover offered was higher than what other developers would typically propose, Garlington said.

The company is willing to put a significant investment into a development that would create about 30 jobs and increase the tax base, he said.

The property would feature a new wing and community park.

“I was surprised at this price,” Garlington said. “Anyone who knows these buildings knows it’s going to take a lot of money to make it happen.”

Alexander IV was on the foundation’s Fading Five list for 2015. In April, more than 150 people attended a public hearing on preserving the landmark.

It was one of four schools opened with money from a trust left by Macon architect and contractor Elam Alexander, who designed the old Lanier Hotel and the first county courthouse.

The school closed in 1970s as part of school desegregation plans.

Several other schools across Macon have or are being turned into housing. East Macon’s Henry A. Hunt Elementary School is being renovated into the senior Hunt School Village and the former A.L. Miller school on Montpelier Avenue is now leasing units for people who work but earn low wages.

One project that is open is the Pearl Stephens Village at the site of the former Stephens Elementary School off Napier Avenue.

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 2:15 PM with the headline "Proposal would turn historic former school into ‘high-class’ senior housing."