An architect has been hired to consider plans for turning Jackson County’s Fox Middle School building into a new community center.
Project President John Deane said he is pleased with the progress so far. Deane said a team of four to five architects is now working on the design.
“Sort of visiting the building, looking at all the pieces, parts of what it would take in order to make it a viable enterprise, and we are excited that we think in mid-march we are gonna have preliminary drawings to share with the community,” Deane said.
Deane said the plan is to renovate the inside of the building, but to try to keep the building’s unique exterior. Deane said the big challenge during the design phase will be figuring out parking.
“You know, where are folks gonna be able to park in the right numbers that we expect to show up to use the facility, and how we can organize the surrounding grounds in an area that can happen without disrupting the school district operations that already exist on the property,” Deane said.
Deane said a public town hall presentation is scheduled for March 12 at the Jackson County Middle School Auditorium to showcase ideas.
“This is such a beautiful building, built with assistance from a prominent architectural firm at the time, and the Roosevelt administration in 1939; it was really a public works project,” Deane said. “And the Corinthian columns, it’s a beautiful building from the exterior, and so it’s everyone’s hope that we can preserve as much of that as possible.”
Deane said the community center will feature a workout facility and meeting room spaces. It could serve as an emergency shelter.
Deane said once the design is complete, the project team will shift to acquiring funding for the project. Deane said the project is still a long way from breaking ground.