Historic Elk Park School

• Avery County
• 40 units

Overview

This project involved the rehabilitation of a historic elementary school in the town of Elk Park to construct 40 apartments to provide housing for the elderly and disabled.  The site is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The school was completely renewed to include 16 one-bedroom apartments, a community meeting room with a stage, greenroom, kitchen, and office space in the old gymnasium.  A new building was constructed behind the school which contains 24 additional dwelling units.  There are laundry facilities on each floor.

Site

The five acre site was also improved.  It now includes community gardens, a gazebo, exterior courtyards and a walking trail.  The existing baseball field is refurbished and remains available for community use.

Affordability

All units have Project Based Section 8 Vouchers from NRHA, ensuring that residents pay no more than 30% of their adjusted family income or pay the minimum rent of $50 per month.  All residents are offered financial literacy and health option supportive services.

Awards

Historic Elk Park School received the 2004 Gertrude S. Carraway Award for excellence in historic preservation from the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina.  The project received broader recognition as the recipient of the 2005 Award of Merit for innovative adaptive reuse from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.