2008 Places in Peril
A.L. Miller Senior High School for Girls

 Neighborhood threatened by abandoned school

The Story:  The 1930 A.L. Miller Senior High School for Girls sits in the middle of a historic neighborhood that is in much need of revitalization. Designed in a collegiate Gothic Revival style, the former school features decorative brickwork, cast stone detailing with trefoil decorations, brick interior walls and maple flooring in the classrooms. It once served as an important educational center for Winship Heights/Montpelier area, and is now owned by the Bibb County Board of Education.

The Threat:  Abandoned neighborhood schools have become a statewide problem. Neighborhoods are becoming threatened by these former anchor institutions that now sit vacant, making revitalization more difficult. Miller High School for Girls lies empty near major arteries to downtown and Mercer University, where development is only right around the corner.

The Solution:  The structure’s large size and good condition make it a strong candidate for adaptive use such as school administration offices. A recent feasibility study found the building to be structurally sound. The roof was recently stabilized with a gift from a local foundation. With support from the school system and superintendent, there is a strong likelihood that its rehabilitation would have a significant catalytic effect on the surrounding area.
 

Left: A.L. Miller Senior High School for Girls