Alexander IV Elementary School to be renovated, turned into senior living center

Alexander IV Elementary School will be transformed into a senior living center by the same name by this time next year.

The combined forces of the Historic Macon Foundation, Piedmont Construction, and Dover Signature Properties are using $12.5 million to fund the renovation and new construction at the former school. Representatives from the three organizations and Bibb County officials gathered at the school for a ceremonial groundbreaking last week.

The school building, located in the Ingleside neighborhood and known colloquially as Alex IV, will be transformed into a 60-unit “high-end senior living center,” with spaces designed for public and community use.

The three organizations will add 19,000 square feet to the original building in the form of a “memory care” wing for residents with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a news release.

Alexander IV was built in 1932 and its doors were closed to students in 2008. According to Historic Macon, Alex IV was “the fourth school built by the Elam Alexander Trust. Elam Alexander believed strongly in the need of free, quality education for Maconites. The architecture of the building resembles finishes and features akin to an Alpine Mountain Village.”

The building was expanded in 1948 and was listed by Historic Macon as an endangered property in 2015.

The Macon-Bibb County Land Authority, guided by county commissioner Mallory Jones, purchased the property in 2016 after it had been declared surplus.

Jones did not speak at the groundbreaking, but Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert wanted to make clear how instrumental Jones was in the plan to renovate Alex IV using blight bond funds — money for removing or reusing blighted or unsafe buildings in Bibb County.

“Commissioner Mallory Jones was the one that was allocated a portion of the blight bond funds for use in his business. And he inquired of people in his district about what would be an adaptive reuse, how can he use the blight bonds to improve the neighborhood. And I think they overwhelmingly said do something about Alexander IV,” Reichert said.

Rick Dover, the managing director of Dover Signature Properties, and another key contributor to the renovation process, according to Reichert.

“This is just a wonderful situation. We’re glad to be here today. I’m so proud to be a big part of this,” Dover said.

Ethiel Garlington, the executive director at the Historic Macon Foundation, also gave a speech about the impact and importance of people to the project.

“Remember, preservation takes time, it does not happen overnight. And preservation doesn’t happen without people,” Garlington said.

For more information visit www.historicmacon.org or call 478-742-5084 Those interested in leasing at Alexander IV Senior Living can contact Rick Dover directly at rick@doversignature.com.