Heflin Main Street in conjunction with the City of Heflin Industrial and Economic
Development Board is excited to announce the purchase of the former Cleburne County High School by Lathan; Coleman, LLC (L&C). L&C will begin redevelopment immediately on the approximately $12 million dollar project to repurpose the High School as an assisted living and memory care community in Cleburne County. The planned redevelopment project will encompass approximately forty-two residences and new construction of a sixteen-bed memory care building. In addition, the project is expected to create approximately thirty-five jobs.
The Cleburne County High School, located at 91 Willoughby Way, opened in 1936 where high school students made memories for forty-eight years. Closed in 1984, the Casey family purchased the building to save it from demolition. “The Casey family has done a great job maintaining this Historic Building. My years of experience in historic renovations tell me that this family cared for the building” said Jerry Lathan.
Jerry Lathan founded The Lathan Company in 1981 and has since then been recognized as a best in class, nationally-recognized historic renovation company. Mr. Lathan has worked on countless historic projects throughout the country including the Beauvoir Mansion of Biloxi after Hurricane Katrina and most recently the renovation of the Old Post Office in Washington, D.C. transforming it into a Trump International Hotel.
The Coleman of Lathan & Coleman belongs to Stuart Coleman. Mr. Coleman is a leader with a proven track record in the senior housing industry. Mr. Coleman has extensive experience in operating top-tier Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities across the southeastern United States. Stuart Coleman has been a part of
every facet of the senior housing business, including ownership, management, acquisitions/renovations, development, team and program building. Stuart has a unique set of experience and skills that produce high-quality, senior communities. Mr. Coleman will oversee operations of the Heflin facility.
“We are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community and I am excited to serve the families in Heflin for years to come”, said Stuart Coleman.
Tanya Maloney, the City’s Economic Developer, and the Casey family have been working on getting the property in a position for development for the past few years. Working with a consultant, the family was successful in getting the school listed on the National Register for Historic Places early this year, which makes the project eligible for historic tax credits. Main Street Alabama stepped in to help Maloney present funding opportunities that made this project attainable.
Mary Helmer, State Director of Main Street Alabama, commented, “Main Street’s mission is Creating Jobs, Keeping Character. This project is a perfect example of how Main Street helps its communities, like Heflin, create economic opportunities for growth through redevelopment of its current assets.”
“This project is a huge win for our community,” says Mayor Rudy Rooks. “30% of Cleburne
County is over the age of 55. Communities, particularly rural communities like ours, need to be thinking about its aging population and how we can help address their needs. With this project, we are working toward building a network of services to the elderly community that include our Cleburne County Nursing Home, our Senior Centers located throughout the County, and our new Urgent Care facility – Southern Immediate Care. Added bonus, who would not want to go back to High School?”
