Project News / Commercial
$10.2M School-to-Senior Housing Conversion Planned in Wichita Falls
Overland Property Group's Lucas Lofts would put 49 affordable units for residents 55 and older in the historic school and a new addition, with work listed to start Dec. 17.
The former Lamar Elementary School in Wichita Falls is set to become affordable senior housing under a $10.2 million project registered with the state. OPG Lucas Partners LLC filed Lucas Lofts at 2206 Lucas Ave. with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on Nov. 6.
According to the filing, the project is a historic renovation of the existing school building plus a new addition. It would create 49 affordable senior units, with 37 in the historic building and 12 in the new building, across 50,000 square feet. The record lists the work as renovation and alteration, with an estimated construction cost of $10.2 million.
Schedule and development team
Construction is listed to start Dec. 17, 2026, with completion on March 17, 2028. The owner entity lists an address in Salina, Kansas. No design firm is assigned on the state record, and no general contractor has been named. The registered accessibility specialist is Kathy S. Rodriguez.
Reusing the former school
Lamar Elementary closed in 2023. In September the Wichita Falls City Council approved rezoning the 7.5-acre property from institutional to high-density residential as a planned unit development, clearing the way for the conversion. At that time construction was expected to begin around January 2027, close to the December start now listed with the state.
The development is planned for residents 55 and older and includes community space. Overland Property Group has said it hopes the building will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. April Engstrom, Overland's director of development, has led the company's work on the project, and Fabian Medellin of the City of Wichita Falls has spoken for the city on the rezoning.
Financing and delivery milestones
Financing details, including whether the project has received state housing tax credits, have not been confirmed. The designer, general contractor and any historic tax credit application are the next items to watch.
