Independent Senior Apartments proposed at Douglass High School

Published 11:15 am Saturday, March 4, 2023

The future of Douglass High School, a treasured historic landmark, will be discussed at the Planning and Zoning meeting on Monday, March 6 at 5:30 pm at the municipal auditorium. 

Douglass High School Alumni Association voted Monday night to begin negotiations to sell part of the historic Douglass High School campus to Douglass School Senior Partners, a limited partnership between the local Thomasville Community Development Corporation and Tapestry Development Group of Decatur, Georgia. 

The group is proposing an independent senior living campus on the east side of the campus. Douglass Senior Apartments will combine private investment with low-income housing tax credits and historic tax credits to finance the deal. The tax credits require the project to preserve the historical structures and make any new construction compatible with the existing structures and surrounding neighborhood, as well as provide residents affordable housing, quality amenities, and access to services. 

“Change is always hard but we think this project will ultimately honor the school’s legacy and be a valuable asset for the surrounding Dewey City neighborhood, which has historically been an active self-sustaining black neighborhood,” said Michael Jones, Director of the newly established Thomasville Community Development group. 

“I am an alumni here and my dad was a teacher and Athletic Director here, so I understand the importance,” Jones said. “But I want to make sure the community understands the project before anything is final so I am going door to door to hear their thoughts and concerns.” 

Douglass High School Alumni Association, who currently owns the entire 8.11 acre campus, would retain the western portion of the campus to continue their operations. Funds from the sale would be used by DHSAA to create a new community center and refurbish the historic gymnasium. 

A public meeting was held at Douglass High School cafetorium on Tuesday night to present the proposal to the neighborhood and other interested citizens. Several neighbors expressed concern that the project would displace current tenants and jeopardize the historic aspects of the building. 

“Our Board heard from the alumni association that there are a number of upgrades and repairs needed to the existing structure that are beyond the scope of the DHSAA and they requested assistance in finding a developer to relieve that financial burden,” said Shan Daniels, Vice Chair of the Thomasville Community Development Corporation. Daniels is also an alumnus of the school. 

“During our research process, we interviewed developers throughout the southeast and found Tapestry to be the most reputable and experienced developer in affordable, high-quality housing and historic preservation. So we really believe this is going to be a win-win for the alumni association and the neighborhood,” Daniels said. 

The city-wide comprehensive plan, along with recent housing studies, have confirmed the need for this type of housing. Daniels, who is also a member of the Housing Authority Board, said they have a permanent waiting list for units for seniors. 

Some neighbors at the meeting on Monday also expressed concern that the community was not part of the communication. 

“We have wrestled with this a long time and there was disagreement among our Board, but we followed a democratic process and as soon as there was a decision, we began notifying the community. And there is still time for input. Nothing has been decided,” said Tyrone White, the current operations manager and treasurer for the alumni association. 

The Jack Hadley Black History Museum, a main tenant on the campus, is in the middle of a capital campaign for Hadley Yards, a new museum location on West Jackson Street next door to the historic Imperial Hotel. The groups are working together to ensure the museum will have time to prepare their exhibits and move into their new location. 

The proposal would require rezoning of the property to C1-A, which would allow for all current uses, along with the potential future use of multi-family housing. The group is asking the Planning and Zoning Board to rezone the property once the community has ample time for project feedback. 

According to local code, “The purpose of this district [C-1A] shall be to create an area in which residential, business, professional, educational, and institutional uses can be compatibly mixed while maintaining a healthful living environment for the residents of the district and at the same time preventing the development of blight and slum conditions.”

The zoning request covers the entire campus however, the campus and surrounding Dewey City neighborhood will maintain their historic designation. 

Douglass High School (originally Dewey City Public School) operated from 1902 until 1970 when the Thomasville City Schools integrated. The black-only school was renowned for its music and athletics programs. After integration, Douglass Middle School operated on the campus from 1970 until 1996. In 2002, The Thomasville City Schools Board of Education sold the school to Douglass High School Alumni Association for $10. The association has maintained an active presence on campus, including an annual Christmas alumni event.