Historic M-R school building to be Madison City Hall by fall

MADISON – The historic Madison-Ridgeland High School building on Main Street is being renovated and will become Madison City Hall by the end of September.  

Madison City Clerk Susan Crandall said everyone who is working in the current Madison City Hall at 1004 Madison Ave., will relocate to the old high school building once renovations are complete. 

“This includes the Mayor’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, City Attorney, Community Development, Environmental Design and more,” Crandall said. “We expect to move in and be ready for business the last week of September.”

According to city officials, the renovations are progressing nicely as crews are carefully working to turn the historic former school into offices for the city and a meeting place for aldermen and others.

The contractor has completed the structural stabilization and infrastructure mechanical, electrical and plumbing work. The interior finishes are going in, including trim and details, and the exterior windows have been restored. The brick interior restoration is underway.

The new location has been in the works since March 2021 when aldermen approved using a $750,000 grant. 

Renovations were originally scheduled to be completed sometime in 2020-2021 as part of plans for Phase I of the city’s Madison on Main development but were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The high school building is behind the old gym, which currently serves as Madison’s Performing Arts Center visible from Main Street.

The high school building, constructed in about 1910, is one of Madison’s most historical landmarks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler said the city is proud of the opportunity to work in the newly renovated facility and believes citizens will appreciate the new look of this special building. 

“There is no better place for the work of the city to be conducted than in the heart of our downtown, in a building that is recognizable and easy for our citizens to visit,” Hawkins-Butler said.  “The city already owned the land and the building is rich with history, so this was an easy decision to make.”

The renovated building will allow the city to offer a spacious second-floor conference room to civic groups for meetings. 

“This is the City Hall for everyone, and we want our residents to feel welcome,” Hawkins-Butler said.

https://onlinemadison.com/stories/historic-m-r-school-building-to-be-madison-city-hall-by-fall,74575