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Nonprofit and developer propose 25–30 affordable apartments at Poindexter Elementary
Summary
The Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Gulf Coast Housing Partnership presented a proposal to repurpose the vacant Poindexter Elementary School into 25–30 affordable housing apartments and community space; the district will consider the proposal at a future board meeting.
The Jackson Public School Board heard an information-only presentation on a proposal to repurpose the former Poindexter Elementary School into affordable housing and community space.
Board members and district staff reviewed a proposal from the Center for Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with Gulf Coast Housing Partnership to convert the roughly 38,000-square-foot building into an apartment development with community space. Mary Elizabeth Evans of Gulf Coast Housing Partnership said the group is “looking at, 25 to 30 apartments there, as well as some community space.”
The proposal, the district said, would rely primarily on low-income housing tax credits and state and federal historic tax credits. Evans told the board the estimated development cost is about $15,000,000 and that the financing package would likely include equity from tax credits, historic tax-credit investment, Federal Home Loan Bank–administered affordable housing program funds, and private construction financing; the proposal package included a letter of interest from Regions Bank.
Lee Harper, chair of the board of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship, described the applicants’ community-focused motivation and prior local investments. Harper said the group envisions broader neighborhood work beyond the single project, calling the effort part of an “iVillage” concept to encourage reinvestment in an area that has lost residents.
District staff described the repurposing initiative as a rolling request-for-proposals process posted on the Jackson Public School District website. The administration said an evaluation committee reviewed submitted proposals and determined the Poindexter submission met or exceeded the standards in the solicitation; the item was presented to the board for information only and will be brought back for action at a later meeting.
Board members expressed general support. One member noted the district’s repurposing packet had stated a preference for creating affordable housing and said Poindexter aligned with that objective. No formal action was taken at the special meeting.
The district said additional details — including final purchase price, financing commitments, and development timeline — will be provided if the board advances the proposal for final consideration.
