LEXINGTON — In consultation with Preservation North Carolina, the Diocese of Charlotte is planning to sell the Dunbar School, a historic building in Lexington, for a future development that will honor its legacy of community service.
Built in 1951 and expanded several times over the years, the Dunbar School is an important part of Lexington’s history. The city’s only high school for African Americans before integration, it was named for Paul Lawrence Dunbar, an African American poet born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872. He was the son of former slaves and classmate of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Though Dunbar only lived to be 33 years old, he was a prolific writer who was popular with black and white readers of his day, and his works continue to be celebrated today. Many schools across the nation reflect the Dunbar name.
The diocese purchased the vacant property in 2009 with the hope of preserving its history and continuing its legacy as a community asset by converting the building into affordable senior housing. However, diocesan officials said as they worked through development plans it became clear the diocese did not have the means to properly renovate the building, so the diocese leased it to community organizations over the next several years while alternative plans could be considered.
“Ultimately, the cost of maintaining the structure far exceeded the leasing income, so the diocese closed the building a few years ago and began a thoughtful search to find a community-minded buyer,” said Anthony Morlando, diocesan properties and risk management director. “Fortunately, we found just that: We have agreed to sell the 10-acre site at near cost to a development company that is pursuing plans for affordable senior housing like the diocese had originally envisioned and that will honor the historic nature of the property, which the diocese and the community value.”
The property is under contract and expected to close later this year. The developer, Shelter Investments Development Corp., has completed several similar renovation projects in the past, including the former Ashe Hospital in Jefferson, which earned the 2020 Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
— Catholic News Herald