Old Milwaukee school building gets new life

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- From the outside, it looks like an old school. Inside, lockers are still intact, a lunchroom and library still stand in the old Jackie Robinson Middle School.  But behind the doors, this is not a school.  Classroom are transformed into affordable housing units.

"I just love it," resident Annie Black said.  "It's gorgeous."

She's one of the first residents at the Sherman Park Commons.

"I'm just proud of my home, I'm just proud of it," she said.

Black is one of dozens of people 55-years-old and up living in the affordable housing complex.

The transformation was made possible through a public-private partnership.  The Milwaukee Public School District, the city of Milwaukee and Gorman development company helped make it happen.

"This is an important transformation," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.

The building was paid for through historic building credits and low-income tax credits.