In Memphis, a historic Black neighborhood’s centerpiece gets a new life

By Nate Berg – Fast Company

May 3, 2024

The former Melrose High School building in Memphis could have become just another shuttered public school. Built in the 1930s and closed in 1979, the three-story brick structure had long been considered obsolete. But unlike many abandoned schools, this one holds a unique place in U.S. history.

Located in Orange Mound — the first subdivision in the country built specifically for Black homebuyers when it was founded in 1890 — the school educated generations of Memphis’ Black residents. It began in a modest home and graduated its first class in 1894, becoming a cornerstone of the community before its closure.

Now, the building is being brought back to life as a centerpiece for the neighborhood. Through a $16 million adaptive reuse project led by the City of Memphis, the site will reopen as Historic Melrose — a mixed-use development featuring a public library, Black genealogy center, community space, and a 28-unit senior housing facility. The project is set to open April 26.

The redevelopment is part of a broader $200 million bond initiative aimed at investing in key areas across the city. Despite sitting vacant for more than 40 years, the school remained an important symbol for the community.

“There has always consistently been a community of people coming out and asking what can be done with the school building,” said Ashley Cash, director of the city’s Division of Housing and Community Development. “At one point, demolition was considered, but the alumni association and community organizations strongly opposed it.”

Beginning around 2018, the city worked closely with residents to shape a vision for the site.

“They wanted a place where people of all ages could gather and feel safe and comfortable, and a place that reflects the history of the community,” Cash said.

The building’s original civic function made it a natural fit for a community-centered redevelopment. The first floor will house a public library — the first in the neighborhood — along with a genealogy center and modern amenities such as a podcasting studio.

The second and third floors will be converted into senior housing, helping address Memphis’ shortage of affordable units.

“We’re about 30,000 units short of quality affordable housing,” Cash said. “Seniors are often wait-listed at nearly every facility in the city.”

City leaders also hope the project will support a broader vision of intergenerational living. Plans include adding affordable housing for families nearby to create a more balanced and connected community.

“A lot of times, senior housing is isolated,” Cash said. “We’re trying to create an intergenerational community that can serve as a model for Memphis and beyond.”

The project also preserves a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, blending historic preservation with new community-focused uses.