NS Partners with City of Marietta for School Redevelopment Assessment

Situated in Marietta’s Harmar Historic District at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, the former Harmar Elementary School site stands as a beloved local landmark with deep historical roots. Once home to Fort Harmar, the first U.S. military fort built in the Northwest Territory, and later to the neighborhood’s elementary school, the site has long served as a cornerstone of community life. Although the school closed due to evolving educational needs, the building remains a powerful symbol of the neighborhood’s history and identity.

Neighborhood Strategies has partnered with the City of Marietta to design a redevelopment concept that honors this legacy while meeting current community priorities and fostering a vibrant, sustainable future. Our team will conduct research, engage stakeholders, and lead a series of community-driven activities to explore adaptive reuse and redevelopment opportunities for the historic site. Guided by feedback collected through surveys, stakeholder charrettes, and youth-focused engagement, the resulting concept will reflect the community’s shared vision for the next chapter of the Harmar Elementary School property.