Ackerson building up for sale; Caife Aspire will continue in new format

The east side of the “Nellie Ackerson building,” which is the WPA high school built in the 1930s.

by Marsha Chartrand

The Nellie Ackerson building, so named for a beloved teacher and principal from the mid-20th century, is on the market again.

Two years ago, Caife Aspire, the “hub” for student-run businesses guided by STEM teacher Joe Walsh, started its operations there after Walsh purchased the building from the school district for $1. At that time, it was well known that maintenance costs, operating costs, and the cost of major repairs needed would be substantial. Walsh and his non-profit board invested time, energy, and money into getting the project off the ground, but much still remains to be done.

The Ackerson building is 63,650 square feet and includes a gymnasium and locker rooms, a stage, a cafeteria, a library, small kitchen, bathrooms, classrooms, offices, a walk-in vault, and a parking lot. The newer section of the building, which was the “Nellie Ackerson Elementary School” on Beaufort Street, includes a modern office complex, including an office suite plus a board and conference room. The “old high school” section of the building, on the east side facing City Road and Wolverine Street, was minimally renovated 20 years ago. 

The Manchester Community Schools board of education began debating the closing of the Nellie Ackerson building, located at 410 City Road, in the spring of 2016, and it was eventually decided to close the building in the summer of 2018, which left it exposed to the elements for nearly three years. When purchased by Caife Aspire, it quickly became a home to the school district’s robotics program, an entrepreneurial hub for student businesses, and rented space to a local dance program built into a dance studio and to the Manchester Area Senior Citizens Council, which created a senior center for the community.

Walsh said on Thursday that this is definitely not the end of the road for Caife Aspire. He said that the location was not attracting as much foot traffic for the student-run businesses as he had anticipated, and he is seeking out rental space downtown which may actually open up broader opportunities for the students. Not owning a building will, obviously, decrease his overhead substantially, and also provide him more time to focus on teaching, the STEM program, and his family.

Walsh added that the decision was difficult and the outcome “sad” but admitted to feeling some relief having made the decision and said he felt at peace with the way things had turned out. “There is always change in life,” he said. “Sometimes you have to decide how to roll with it.”

The building and property, which is zoned Residential, is listed with a local realtor for $400,000.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.