Orange Mound Collaborative

Orange Mound Center Project Put on Hold

Feb 25, 2000

Orange Mound Center Project on Hold

Whether you were listening to the radio or the evening news, reading the Commercial Appeal or a flyer in the mail, at church or the beauty shop, for the last few months someone, somewhere was talking about the Old Melrose High School and what should happen to it.

No matter which side of the issue you stood, one thing was clear - a lot people care about Orange Mound. So it was no surprise that current and former residents packed the Memphis City Council Chambers Tuesday, January 23, 2000 to see how this story would end.

City Council members listened to the Memphis Park Commission talk about the plan for the Orange Mound Center and the need for the demolition of the old Melrose High School building. A resident along Dallas Street told Council members about the safety problems the vacant building causes. An elderly resident talked about the need for a (recreational) place for them.

The Council also heard from a number of Melrose Alumni wanting to save the abandoned building to preserve Orange Mound's history. Melrose Alum Jesse Wilburn reminded council members that, "schools are made of people, not bricks and mortar."

During the Council meeting, questions were raised about the proposed cost of demolition and if the Memphis Park Commission had done a feasibility study on the reuse of the building. In the end, Councilwoman Janet Hooks recommended that the council delay a decision for 60 days to allow the Memphis Park Commission to develop a plan that includes the reuse of the old high school building.

Council members hope that a plan can be developed that can satisfy those who support the Orange Mound Center project and those interested in saving the old school.