Newport News prepares to move historic school

Demolition of Huntington Middle to begin soon

NEWPORT NEWS — The city hopes to begin constructing the new Huntington Middle School later this year — but officials say it may take longer to complete and cost more than estimated.

The city plans to move Huntington several blocks south — from 3401 Orcutt Ave. to 28th Street. The historic school’s current location will be redeveloped into a community center featuring a pool, library and gymnasium. While most of the existing Huntington school will be demolished, Newport News plans to keep its facade intact to preserve the cultural history of the 87-year-old building, which initially served as the city’s only high school for Black students.

“Demolition will be occurring this year, and it is our hope that construction begins this year as well,” said Director of Planning Sheila McAllister in a statement to the Daily Press. “Demolition has to happen first, and afterward we have to go through the bidding process for the construction contractor.”

The city announced this week it closed the Doris Miller Community Center. The center is being demolished in preparation for the Southeast Community Resource Area — the land encompassing seven blocks between Orcutt and Wickham avenues and 28th and 36th streets. Plans for the area include the construction of the new school and community center as well as open green spaces that provide for outdoor activities and community gatherings, a multipurpose field, a splash pad and sports courts.

The programs coordinated at Doris Miller moved to other locations.

In the fall of 2021, the city estimated the project would cost $57 million — $40 million for Huntington and $17 million for the public buildings and resources on the site. At last week’s City Council meeting, City Manager Cynthia Rohlf said the cost would be higher, though she did not have an exact figure.

The planned opening of the new Huntington Middle School was fall of 2024, but Rohlf said the project would likely take longer. McAllister said the city does not have an updated schedule because it needs to finalize the drawings and approve them through the development process.

“After that, we can be a little more accurate as to project schedule,” McAllister said. “We are looking to stay as close to fall 2024 as we can.”

Once complete, the school and multiuse field will be on school property, with the rest of the project on city property.

Last week, architecture firm Quinn Evans presented updated Huntington school and community center renderings to the City Council. Quinn Evans Principal Charles Tilley said the aim was to create a next-generation school that “honors the past and inspires the future.”

The firm had several guiding principles when designing the project. Tilley said architects wanted the area to renew a sense of community pride, reflect “the vibrant history and heritage of the Huntington community,” and be a place of multigenerational opportunities, providing spaces for youth, adults and seniors. They also want it to be a space for wellness “promoting healthy lifestyles for students and community members” and to spark renewed interest in the redevelopment of the Southeast community, Tilley said.

The Huntington relocation project has been the source of some controversy. Some alumni consider the school’s grounds as “sacred” and have repeatedly voice opposition to the move at council meetings.

Huntington opened in 1936 and was the city’s only high school for Black students for several years. The high school later closed and became the only middle school zoned for students living in southeast Newport News. It served about 500 students until it closed in June 2018 because it was deteriorating. McAllister called criticism of the relocation plan “unfortunate,” noting the school system’s desire to have 21st century building.

“In order to do that, the original Huntington High School would have to have been torn down,” she said.

Newport News plans to hold community meetings this spring to present final designs and an update. The planned community building is roughly 105,000 square feet, and the new middle school is about 122,500 square feet.