MEMPHIS, Tenn. —
Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen secured $3 million in federal funding for renovations to the historic Melrose High School in the Orange Mound neighborhood. Melrose is being transformed into a mixed-use facility featuring a library, café, genealogy center and 28 senior living apartments.
“The Orange Mound community deserves this,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Stickland.
Renovations started in October 2022 and are near completion. Longtime Orange Mound resident Hazell Glover Jones attended Melrose from 1951 to 1963. She hopes to move into one of the apartments once the facility is complete.
"I am so proud of this building. And I want to be the first somebody to get the housing. I'm 78, so I would love to have one of these senior houses," said Jones.
Neighbors and Melrose alumni are overjoyed to see the 40,000 square-foot facility brought back to life.
"I'm super excited about what this building means for many, many future generations. This was once my playground, so now I get to see it be revitalized," said Melrose graduate Jevonte Porter.
Melrose High School was the first black high school in Memphis. It opened in 1938 and closed in 1979. It was placed on the National register of Historic Places in 2001.
"This is going to be a great inspiration to our community, this is going to be a catalyst," said Jones.