More than 150 pack meeting to discuss future of Alexander IV school
Interested in the fate of the vacant school that's been a landmark in Macon's Ingleside neighborhood for 80 years, more than 150 people filled the old wooden-floored auditorium at Alexander IV to share ideas about its future.
When Alexander IV Elementary School opened on 3769 Ridge Ave. in 1932, it was front-page news in The Telegraph, noted Kim Campbell, preservation and education coordinator for Historic Macon, who attended Monday evening's public meeting. The building has not been used continuously and has been vacant for long stretches of time. It hasn't been used by students since 2011 and was declared surplus in 2013 by the Bibb County school board.
Today, the old school is one of five properties on the Historic Macon Foundation's "Fading Five" list, which focuses on significant structures in need of restoration. Recently, the school board approved the school's sale to the Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority, which will hold the Tudor Revival-style building and work with Historic Macon to explore the future of the property, according to the foundation.
Ethiel Garlington, executive director of Historic Macon, on Monday presented some possibilities for future use of the building, including a school, condominium, commercial offices and an arts center.
Some in attendance voiced opposition to using the old school for commercial purposes.
"Whatever this site becomes, what are the things you're missing in this neighborhood that we might be able to squeeze out of the developer who develops this site?" Garlington asked after offering suggestions such as a dog park or community garden.
Brooks Dantzler, of Riley Avenue, said she "would like to see a library with archives about the neighborhood on site here."
Sue Anne Morris, who has lived on Marjorie Place for three decades, said she wanted to see the building turned into something akin to a community center.
Garlington was surprised by the large turnout Monday night and said he only expected about a third of the attendance.
"The next step is Historic Macon will gather all this information and put together requests for proposals incorporating as much as we can with this," Garlington said. He expects it will be early summer before potential developers send in proposals.
Then, a review committee, including five members selected by Historic Macon, will look at the proposals and pick one to present to the Land Bank in August, he said.
Alexander IV isn't the first Macon school that's found a new life after the last students left.
A renovation of Henry A. Hunt Elementary School in east Macon began in March. In February 2017, the former school at 900 Shurling Drive is expected to open as "Hunt School Village," which will offer housing units for people 62 and older. Across town on Montpelier Avenue, the old Miller school, which opened in 1932, is being converted into housing for people who work but earn low wages.
And on Napier Avenue, the former Pearl Stephens Elementary School was built three years before Alexander IV. The school, built of stone tile with a stucco finish, fell into disrepair in the 1990s but was redeveloped by the Macon Housing Authority. The school now operates as a 61-unit housing facility called "Pearl Stephens Village."
To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 and follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.
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This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 8:58 PM with the headline "More than 150 pack meeting to discuss future of Alexander IV school ."