The Alexander IV Review Committee, comprised of residents and stakeholders, with the assistance of Historic Macon Foundation, has selected a proposal for the redevelopment of Alexander IV Elementary school in the historic Ingleside neighborhood.  Ethiel Garlington, HMF executive director, presented the proposal to the Facilities and Engineering Committee of the Macon Bibb County Commission.

Dover Development Corporation, a firm based in Knoxville, Tennessee, submitted a proposal to redevelop Alex IV as a senior living facility. The proposal will result in a total investment of $8.8 million. Dover Development proposes to appropriately rehab the existing structure and build an architecturally compatible new wing. The development will consist of 60 units for senior living and create 30 new and permanent jobs. Construction is anticipated to start in the spring of 2017 with an expected completion date of late 2018.

“We are delighted that Dover Development submitted a comprehensive proposal and plan for the iconic property that was listed on our inaugural Fading Five list in 2015. Not only will the proposed use save the historic buildings, but it also meets the neighborhood’s desires,” says Ethiel Garlington, Executive Director of HMF.

Dover Development has a proven track record for rehabbing historic buildings in a sensitive manner for adaptive reuse. The corporation has developed four historic schools into senior living facilities. In 2016, Dover Development won the Chairman’s Award from the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. After development of Alex IV, Dover Development will contract the management of the facility to Senior Solutions, a Georgia-based company. Senior Solutions currently manages 18 senior living facilities in Georgia and Tennessee.

HMF worked with Commissioner Mallory Jones to purchase Alexander IV from the Macon-Bibb County Board of Education using blight bond funds. The Macon-Bibb County Land Bank Authority acquired Alex IV in early 2016. Since that time, Historic Macon has worked with a committee of community members to find an appropriate developer for the historic school. Part of this process included holding a public meeting that over 100 people attended in April of 2016. Dover Development included comments from the public meeting in its proposal and plans to incorporate communal spaces for the neighborhood throughout the building and a community park on the grounds.

Once the proposal has been approved, Historic Macon will work with Dover Development to schedule a public meeting to present the corporation’s rehabilitation plans to the community.