by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Once a school, then a historic structure, now a set of homes.
Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver purchased the historic John Gorrie Junior High School in February 2009 in an auction after the building piqued their interest during their walks through their Riverside neighborhood.
The school, built in 1923 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, was in disrepair. Delores Weaver said they decided to transform the building and its distinctive architecture into a livable community that retained its history.
“It’s got great old bones,” she said.
After 2 1/2 years of investment and sweat equity, the Weavers have completed “The John Gorrie a condominium,” a 68-unit building with residences ranging from 800-1,800 square feet.
Construction included asbestos removal, reinforcing the structure and repairing the roof. There also were some dirty details. Weaver said she cleaned the toilets of all 68 units herself and said Wayne Weaver has done some heavy lifting. For her, it meant several weekdays at the building along with weekends.
She said the fun part is decorating the building with reminders of its past, much of it original.
The units aren’t the same, she said. “They’re all so different,” said Weaver, “but each one has its own personality.”
One two-story townhome even has the original stage flooring from the school’s auditorium still intact.
The units are selling from the low $100,000s to just above $300,000 and the curiosity factor has been high, she said. A planned historic tour of the building Aug. 13 will benefit HabiJax and Riverside Avondale Preservation.
Tickets for the event are on sale at www.thejohngorrie.com. Advance tickets are $15 and are $20 the day of the tour.
Weaver said the transformation has been a challenge.
“It’s taken some time but I’m really proud of the way it’s turned out,” she said. “I’m happy.”
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