MNPS to demolish Stokes School, lease new building to Lipscomb

Lipscomb education majors soon will have access to a new development center, while Stokes School becomes a memory.

Earlier this year, Metro Nashville Public Schools filed a demolition permit for the former Stokes Elementary School and installed a fence around it, which is MNPS property loaned to Lipscomb University for use as additional parking.

The building “is no longer suitable for occupation or use,” said Sean Braisted, MNPS chief of communications and technology. “The permit is currently under review by the Metro Historic Zoning Commission.”

Tim Walker, executive director of the Nashville Historical Commission, confirmed to Herd Media that the commission surveyed Stokes School and determined it to be a historic resource and meets the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Walker said the commission has the authority to delay a demolition permit for these structures for up to 90 days.

“We’ve used that time to discuss options for rehab and reuse of the building with Metro Schools as well as documentation and salvaging of the building,” Walker said.

But MNPS has made its plan very clear.

Metro plans to transform the property into a professional learning and development space for current and future educators in partnership with Lipscomb University.

Lipscomb University is the largest provider of MNPS teachers, according to Braisted.

Metro would still be the owner of the property and enter into a long-term lease agreement with Lipscomb. Therefore, this facility will not be an extension of Lipscomb’s main campus.

The proposal signals that the school would continue using the property for parking while Lipscomb fundraises for the construction of a new building. This portion of the lease remains valid for five years with a two-year extension.

If Lipscomb is unable to secure construction funds, Metro will cancel the lease, but the institution could still use the space for parking, as it does today.

This would not be the first time MNPS partnered with Lipscomb. The institution also offers the LIFT program, which provides full tuition to 10 Metro students each year who aspire to be teachers.

About Stokes

The Walter Stokes School was built in 1936 and sits on five acres of land.

In 2010, according to the Lumination Network, Lipscomb expressed interest in purchasing the school. At the time, then-dean Candice McQueen planned to restore the building and transform it into the home of the college of education.

However, Metro Nashville Public Schools decided to take the building off the market and never put it back up for sale.

The building has been vacant since 2008, and Lipscomb has been using the land as an overflow parking ever since, particularly during busy events such as Dove Awards, Grandparents Day or Lighting of the Green.

Stokes has 237 parking spots, with half typically being available during the busiest part of the day, according to the Office of Student Life.

The future

At some point during the demolition, the entire property would be needed. The McCadams Athletic Center could accommodate part of the actual flow.

For now, faculty and staff will be able to park at Stokes as usual, according to Kim Chaudoin, vice president of communications and marketing.

The demolition hold on the school will expire on Sept. 8.

Before the demolition can proceed, the MNPS Board of Education and the Metro Council will need to approve it, followed by a community meeting, where neighbors will express their concerns.