CITY OF MARIETTA
HARMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT
Neighborhood Strategies was hired by the City of Marietta and Mayors’ Partnership for Progress in southeastern Ohio to conduct research, gather stakeholder input, apply expertise, and lead community engagement activities to recommend concepts for adaptive reuse or redevelopment of the historic Harmar Elementary School building and property. Driven by community feedback via surveys, stakeholder charrettes, and youth-focused engagement activities, the project will bring forward a site concept that represents the community’s vision for the future.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, OH
2024 - Present
SERVICES
Site Redevelopment/Reuse
Community Engagement
Attainable/Infill Housing
Site Vision Casting
>>> BALANCING HISTORIC PRESERVATION & A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Situated in the Harmar Historic District of Marietta and at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, the Harmar Elementary School site is a local landmark with a rich history. From 1785 to 1791, it was home to Fort Harmar, the first U.S. military fort built in the Northwest Territory. The school, constructed in 1953, played an important role in the educational development of the community, serving several generations of students. While the building eventually closed due to evolving educational needs and infrastructure, the building remains a significant symbol of the neighborhood’s story. The school site is part of ongoing discussions about historic preservation and adaptive reuse in the area. Neighborhood Strategies is partnering with the community to create a redevelopment concept that honors the school’s history, meets community priorities, and fosters a vibrant and sustainable future.
>>> Engagement-Informed Assessment
For six months, Neighborhood Strategies, with support from community, City, Board of Education, and Mayors’ Partnership for Progress/Ohio University representatives, conducted background research, held two public meetings, published public surveys that received hundreds of responses, gathered survey data and 76 illustrations from Marietta’s youth, and hosted an in-depth community stakeholder workshop to creatively brainstorm uses for the site. Our firm analyzed survey responses from adults and students, illustrations from elementary school children, local stakeholder-created use concepts, and data gathered through research and site visits, which resulted in the emergence of four potential use concepts for the Harmar Elementary School site. As data is collected and assessed, Neighborhood Strategies will recommend one use concept along with a feasibility study and next steps.
>>> RECONNECTING HARMAR VILLAGE THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS
Neighborhood Strategies’ redevelopment assessment and concept recommendations for the Harmar Elementary School site will provide expertise and suggestions on feasibility, sustainability, accessibility, and programming potential. Prioritizing river access, the proposed concept will enhance connectivity to the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers through strategies that may include direct access points, riverfront park development, and improved pathways linking Harmar Village to the riverfront. The plan emphasizes recreation, conservation, and collaboration with broader Marietta efforts while prioritizing community needs. Special focus is being given to community input and connecting the Harmar Elementary School site to Harmar Village and downtown Marietta.
