Jackson school board hears two redevelopment proposals for Poindexter and Marshall; vote expected Tuesday

The Jackson Public School Board on Wednesday reviewed proposals to repurpose two surplus school properties — Poindexter Elementary and Marshall Elementary — and scheduled formal consideration for its next regular meeting.

The superintendent’s office presented both items as information-only summaries and said the district will bring them back to the board for action. The proposals include a plan by Gulf Coast Housing Partnership and the Center for Social Entrepreneurship to convert Poindexter into affordable housing and a mixed-use “renaissance hub” proposal from the civic nonprofit 1 Voice for Marshall.

The Poindexter proposal, led in partnership by the Center for Social Entrepreneurship and the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership, would rehabilitate the Mississippi-landmarked Poindexter building for residential use and community space. Mary Elizabeth Evans of Gulf Coast Housing Partnership described the plan as “to repurpose Poindexter as affordable housing. We’re looking at 25 to 30 apartments there, as well as some community space.” The proposal estimates total development costs at about $15,000,000 and anticipates financing that includes low-income housing tax credits, state and federal historic tax credits, Federal Home Loan Bank affordable-housing funds and private lending. The team said Belinda Stewart Architects — experienced with historic school rehabs — is the proposed architect, and noted a March deadline for housing tax-credit applications.

The Marshall proposal, submitted by 1 Voice, would convert the larger Marshall facility into a hub that combines housing with disaster response, workforce development, health services and sustainability programs. District staff noted the advisory-evaluation committee found both proposals met or exceeded the stated evaluation standards; the review flagged one mixed-use aspect of the Marshall submission as not meeting the evaluation committee’s “affordable housing component” standard while still including housing in the overall program. When asked about price, district staff summarized the Marshall bid by saying, “The proposed purchase price for the Marshall building is, 441,000.”

Board members and staff discussed next steps and timing. The superintendent’s office said both proposals were received through an RFP process with rolling deadlines (the packet lists submission dates of Sept. 18, 2024, and Nov. 20, 2024). The district’s general counsel said the Mississippi Department of Archives and History has been engaged about other properties and indicated MDAH will review demolition permits for three other district buildings at its next quarterly meeting; counsel said, “At the next quarterly meeting in April, we expect to have those permits to demolish those three buildings, Branch, Baker and Wilbur Heights.”

Board members who have conflicts of interest on the Marshall proposal were noted and will recuse themselves when that item is considered for action. District staff and the advisory committee said they will return both proposals to the board at its next meeting for formal votes.

Information-only items treated at the meeting included: presentation of the Poindexter and Marshall proposals and status updates on the district’s repurposing initiative and other properties in active negotiation. The board approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session and later adjourned by formal motion.

The district’s repurposing initiative website and the RFP materials contain the full evaluation packets and application guidance. The board’s next regular meeting will include formal consideration and possible votes on the Poindexter and Marshall proposals.