For the second time in less than three weeks, a historic Charlotte school has been the scene of a fire, drawing significant concern from the community. The latest incident occurred earlier today, with firefighters responding to a call at the former Wilmore School located in the city’s Wilmore Historic District on West Boulevard. WBTV reports that the firefighters called for additional resources upon arrival to combat smoke emanating from the roof.
According to QC News, this second blaze comes after the city's plans were unveiled to repurpose the nearly century-old property into a mixed-use development following a rezoning approval in May 2024. The development aimed to preserve the school's building itself while adding new structures, including apartments, townhomes, retail, and office space around the 3.5-acre site. The plans mandated that at least 5% of the new apartments be designated as affordable housing units.
While the cause of the current fire is still under investigation, it is known that the team of 60 firefighters were able to get the situation under control in approximately 25 minutes, and thankfully, no injuries were reported. WCNC noted that the fire prompted the temporary closure of a section of West Boulevard near South Mint Street during the firefighting efforts.
Amid these developments, community interest in the fate of the historic building remains high. Just minutes before the rezoning approval last year, Charlotte councilwoman LaWana Mayfield was quoted by WBTV as saying, "I appreciate the fact that they are preserving this school and the history of Wilmore," further emphasizing Wilmore's distinct identity and historic value. The impact of the recent fires on the redevelopment plans for the school site has not yet been clarified, leaving the community waiting for updates on the preservation of its cherished landmark.
