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Board selects developer team to pursue repurposing of Poindexter Elementary; selection contingent on negotiated sale agreement
Summary
The Jackson Public School Board approved designating Gulf Coast Housing Partnership and the Center for Social Entrepreneurship as the preferred proposers for Poindexter Elementary, authorizing staff to continue negotiations toward a purchase and sale agreement and noting a March 1 deadline for financing submission.
The Jackson Public School Board voted to designate Gulf Coast Housing Partnership and the Center for Social Entrepreneurship as the preferred respondents for the repurposing of the former Poindexter Elementary School, authorizing district staff to continue negotiations toward a purchase and sale agreement and related site-control documents.
Mr. Burke, speaking for the administration, told the board that two proposals were received in response to the district’s RFP and that the facilities repurposing advisory and evaluation committee recommended the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership/Center for Social Entrepreneurship proposal. The respondent proposes an adaptive reuse of the historic West Jackson school into approximately 30 affordable apartments plus community space and services; the proposal lists a purchase price of about $12.81 per square foot (roughly $400,000) and the proposer indicated an approximate $15,000,000 investment in rehabilitation of the building.
Mr. Burke described the plan as seeking to “preserve a piece of local history and become a cornerstone for economic revitalization.” The administration recommended that the board select the respondent to continue negotiations but not finalize a sale until a satisfactory purchase and sale agreement is negotiated and executed.
The board approved the recommendation with Dr. Hairston moving the motion and Missus Thompson seconding. Attorney Dorian Turner (cited in the meeting) advised that the board’s action mirrors prior practice: approving an exclusive negotiating partner but deferring final approval of a sale until a completed purchase and sale agreement is acceptable to the district. Board members noted a submission deadline to Mississippi Home Corporation; staff said the respondent acknowledged site-control documents or a purchase and sale agreement would be needed for submission by March 1, 2025.
Next steps: staff will transmit the district’s form purchase and sale agreement to the proposer, continue negotiations and, if needed, call a special board meeting to finalize sale documents in time to meet financing or grant deadlines.
