The John Gorrie a condominium, the former school and historic landmark that has recently undergone a meticulous restoration and renovation into condominiums and townhomes, welcomed more than 750 people to a historic guided tour recently. The fundraising event, which benefited Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) and HabiJax, raised more than $12,000 for the organizations while providing visitors with a look at one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in the area. Among the visitors at the tour were Mayor Alvin Brown, Councilman Warren Jones, Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals and many former students of John Gorrie Junior High School.

Volunteers from RAP led the guided tours, providing an overview of the school’s history, details of the architecture and design elements of the building, and highlights of the restoration and renovation process along the way. During the renovation, more than 81 miles of electrical wire, 78 separate air-conditioning units, and 25,000 concrete pavers were used to complete the building. Old wood flooring was retained where possible, but nearly 30,000 square feet of new wood flooring were also installed. The two buildings combined boast a total of 725 exterior windows.

Several antique cars from the era of John Gorrie Junior High School, provided courtesy of The Antique Automobile Club of America, and The “Retro” ROAR, the Jaguars Cheerleaders dressed in poodle skirts and saddle shoes, added to the historical ambience of the event. In addition to the on-site tour, tickets holders were also treated to a special “Taste of Riverside” promotion, where various Riverside-area restaurants and shops provided special discounts. Participating restaurants and shops included Bold City Brewery, Carmine’s Pie House, European Street Cafe, Five Points Theater, Intuition Ale Works, Gate Gas Station and Bakery Moderne.

This historical tour was a one-time only opportunity and the condominium is now open only for sales. For more information about the opportunity to own a piece of local history and to schedule an appointment with the onsite Prudential Network Realty representative, call (904) 383-3688 or visit www.TheJohnGorrie.com.