Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall
Montgomery school torn down after years of abandonment
Reading time: 3 minutes
A long-closed elementary school in downtown Montgomery has been demolished, marking a major step forward in the city’s ongoing initiative to improve blighted properties.
Crews began the clearing process over the last few weeks and finishing efforts are now underway. Today, all that remains at the site are large concrete pieces and the original steps that once led to the front entrance of W.B. Paterson Elementary School.
Paterson Elementary School site cleared of blight
Located at 1015 East Jefferson Street, the building officially closed its doors following the completion of the 2008-2009 school year due to declining enrollment and budget shortfalls.
W.B. Paterson Elementary School served the downtown Montgomery area for more than half a century, opening initially as a segregated school for Black children in the 1950s. The former kindergarten-through-5th-grade institution holds a deeply rooted history in the capital city’s education system.
It was named in honor of William Burns Paterson, a prominent figure credited as a founder of Alabama State University. Paterson also served as the institution’s second president for more than three decades.
Former Patterson Elementary school site prepped for redevelopment
Having sat abandoned for nearly two decades, the empty W.B. Patterson Elementary structure increasingly faced vandalism, decay and unauthorized entry in recent years. To resolve the safety hazards and aesthetic issues plaguing the immediate area, the city moved forward with demolition plans.
The demolition contract was awarded to Jettison Environmental of Prattville. The company documented its progress across social media as the old structure came down.
“It’s amazing to see how far this project has come. What was once an abandoned school building has now been transformed as our crews continue clearing the site and preparing it for future opportunities.”
Jettison Environmental
As of right now, city officials have not announced any official redevelopment or future construction plans for the East Jefferson Street site. Jettison Environmental is expected to completely wrap up the final clean-up and dirt-grading efforts by July.
What kind of development or community space would you like to see built on this newly cleared property? Let us know on Instagram.
