NATCHEZ, Miss. – City officials continue to negotiate the planned sale of the Margaret Martin building to developers who envision the former school being renovated into a multipurpose center alongside Dunleith, the antebellum estate on Homochitto Street.
Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson on Tuesday cited a tentative $75,000 purchase price for the city-owned structure built in 1927. However, appraisals of the property’s value will be done before finalizing Margaret Martin’s sale to Dunleith’s owners. They include Mike Blattner of Natchez and New Orleans hotelier Joe Jaeger. They bought Dunleith last November and plan to soon reopen the mansion inn, restaurant and event venue.
Jaeger heads the J Collection, a New Orleans-based company that operates 17 southern hotels and resorts that include the Maison Dupuy and Bourbon Orleans hotels in New Orleans and nearby Nottoway Plantation.
Blattner earlier this month announced their intention to buy Margaret Martin, a state-designated historic landmark built 93 years ago as Natchez High School. The Gothic Revival/Tudor-style building needs extensive restorations and repairs that have been estimated to cost as much as $6 million. Plans are for it to be used for various events, overnight accommodations, a cooking school and other potential utilization.
The Natchez Board of Aldermen on Tuesday officially decided the city-owned facility is not needed as public property and can be sold.
Named after Natchez teacher and principal Margaret Martin, it closed decades ago as a junior-high school and in 1999 became the main site of the annual Natchez Festival of Music. The city, festival organization and state Department of Archives and History have struggled to come up with funds over the years to properly maintain and repair the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center. City officials have tried to sell it in recent years, but deals fell through.
An alliance of government and private partners was formed last year to revitalize the building. The group — led by Gibson before being elected mayor in July — hired architect Belinda Stewart to design plans for it. She estimated about $6 million is needed to fully refurbish Margaret Martin, including its 650-seat auditorium used for the annual music festival.
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