Rockmart housing plans announced
♦ Housing Authority announces plans for Elm Street, Euharlee School developments
Plans for two old schools in Rockmart are starting to come together with housing as the main focus for the properties.
The Northwest Georgia Housing Authority board approved a resolution to partner with the Paces Foundation as co-developer for upgrades at the Ashland Park Apartments in Rome and redevelopment of the Elm Street and Euharlee school buildings in Rockmart.
The work in Rockmart will convert the two old schools into residential units with one, two, three and four bedroom units.
The project will also include renovations of the old gym and construction of a new swimming pool.
“We’re just in the process of trying to hire an architect,” Executive Director Sandra Hudson said.
What to do with the old schools in Rockmart has been in the works for a long time. As far back as before the 2008 recession, plans for the Elm Street School fluctuated between housing and potentially providing the Rockmart Fire Department with a second station.
The focus for the most part in postrecession planning has been on housing for both developments.
In 2014, plans were discussed for Rockmart city officials to work with the NWGHA to secure grants to work on a development of Elm Street School for low cost housing for local families,
utilizing the 60,000 square foot building and 11 acres of land available.
The city in 2017 also held public hearings over what to do with the Euharlee school building, with the idea that it would become a senior housing development at the time.
Hudson sought at the time to build a 14-unit housing development within the old school, and add on 26 new units
on the available property.
Rockmart officials were just learning of the new developments on both properties put forth by the Housing Authority Board late last week. They are expected to provide a statement at a later date about the planned new housing.