Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission announced on Apr. 7 that they are looking for a new owner for the Torrence-Lytle School complex, located at 13900 Holbrooks Road in Huntersville.
The effort aims to preserve the historic character of the site while finding a use that benefits the community. The county recently allocated $500,000 to repair and stabilize the building, including installing a new roof and making significant structural improvements.
“This is one of the last buildings from the County’s 1930s effort to build high schools for African Americans,” said Historic Landmarks Department Director Stewart Gray. “It’s important we save this building, because so many others like it have been lost.”
The Torrence-Lytle School opened in 1937 as northern Mecklenburg County’s only public high school for African Americans. It originally served grades one through eleven with seven classrooms, five teachers, and an enrollment of 181 students. The school was expanded in later years with additional classrooms and facilities. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Mecklenburg County schools enrolled a total of 153,537 students in the 2022-23 school year.
The surrounding Pottstown neighborhood has historical significance as a Black community dating back to the 1890s. After closing in 1966 following desegregation rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, Torrence-Lytle was used as an alternative learning center, recreation facility, and warehouse space; its gymnasium became known as the David B. Waymer Recreation Center.
Enrollment at Mecklenburg County dropped by 0.4% during the same academic year compared to previous numbers according to state data. The property holds both local landmark status and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Officials hope that preserving this site will honor its legacy while serving future generations.
