Partners preserve history, break new ground at Douglass School

The June 1 groundbreaking for the Douglass School Senior Apartments was more than the start of a construction project—it was a celebration of the partnerships, perseverance, and preservation of the Douglass High School legacy.

Incoming Board Chair Shan Daniels reminded the audience that getting to this point took overcoming major obstacles, from federal funding cuts to lawsuits. “But that’s the hard work of community development,” Daniels said.

The $23 million redevelopment will transform the historic Douglass School campus into 52 affordable senior housing units while preserving the legacy of a site that holds deep significance for the Dewey City community. The project is being developed through a partnership between Thomasville Community Development Corporation (TCDC) and Tapestry Development Group.

The event highlighted the important roles played by the Douglass High School Alumni Association (DHSAA), the Thomasville Housing Authority, and the Jack Hadley Black History Museum.

By participating in the project through a Private Enterprise Agreement, The Thomasville Housing Authority helped ensure long-term affordability in the project.  DHSAA's stewardship of the campus helped ensure the school's legacy would be preserved for future generations.

The Jack Hadley Black History Museum will move from their current home on the Douglass campus to the Thomasville High School campus until their new building at Hadley Yards on West Jackson Street is complete. The museum has been a key tenant in preserving the campus and Mr. Jack Hadley advocated for finding a productive reuse of the historic building.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers reflected on the importance of preserving the history of Douglass School while creating new opportunities for local seniors.

Congressman Sanford Bishop spoke about the significance of the neighborhood's history and the resilience of the community that grew around it: "Out of that rose something very remarkable, a community that could stand on its own."

His remarks echoed a theme heard throughout the ceremony: preserving places like Douglass School is about preserving the stories, achievements, and cultural identity that have shaped the community for generations.

Representative Darlene Taylor told the audience that housing is a struggle throughout the state, but Thomasville has a way of finding solutions. She encouraged partners to continue to find a way to create a much-needed health clinic on the DHSAA-owned portion of the campus. Sen Jon Ossoff’s State Director Chandra Harris also spoke to share the Senator’s support of the project. His office recently announced a $764,000 Congressionally Directed Spending request to fund a community health clinic on the adjoining campus.

Gideon Construction will lead the estimated 15-month construction process. Lease up is expected to begin in Summer 2027, according to Jon Toppen, president of Tapestry Development Group.