Metropolitan Davidson County holds the title to several shuttered school buildings of historic significance and further potential, such as Union Hill School (1538 Union Hill Road), an Art Deco gem in north Davidson County. This lovely little school sits on a rise in tiny Union Hill northeast of White's Creek. Though silent and boarded, the building is still in remarkably good shape.
The John B. Ransom School (Elmington Place off West End) may be demolished for construction of 11 single-family homes, according to Historic Nashville. The historic city school dates from 1918, with wings added from 1926 to 1955, and it was designed by the Nashville architectural firm of Warfield & Keeble, best known for designing the iconic 1950s L&C Tower. The school was last used as the Randall's Learning Center before Metro vacated it in 2007. Preservationists are trying to persuade the city to work with local neighborhood groups to preserve the local landmark.
McIntyre says that a historic conservation overlay protects the property, which lends itself to adaptive reuse. As proof of the wisdom of renovating old properties rather than calling in the wrecking ball, McIntyre points to the restoration and reuse of Eakin School on Fairfax Avenue, not far from the endangered John B. Ransom School. Historic schools are "light-filled and inspiring," McIntyre says.
