By Karl Cameron
Contributing Writer
In the wake of October J.W. Ligon Building Advisory Council meetings, the future of the structure remains undetermined. We asked Wake Co. Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Robert Taylor, if the School Board had at some point changed its position to renovate the Ligon Building, and opt for a tear down? He told us that the fate of the Ligon Building is going through the same process as any project bid on for construction, where options are weighed ranging from renovation to the construction of a new building. Dr. Taylor went on to say, “No determination has been made by the School Board. Nobody has sanctioned a new building.”
Dr. Taylor went on to say that he plans to talk to a number of groups. One such meeting has come to our attention, which is set for the Southeast Raleigh YMCA, 1436 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh, NC 27610 on Nov. 24, 2025 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The meeting is billed as the “Ligon Middle School Renovation District 4 Community Meeting”, and will have the District 4 School Board Member, Ms. Toshiba Rice, on hand as well as Superintendent Taylor.
The public is still invited to give input into the fate of the Ligon Building before the community meeting date by going to Ligon Magnet Middle School/Home Page, and clicking on School News: Ligon Renovation Project. This will lead you to a page where you can give your feedback by clicking on: submit feedback.
We also talked with J.W. Ligon Alumni Association President, Tony Bethea, who is among the volunteers on the J.W. Ligon Building Advisory Council, and he told us there appear to be three options for the building at this point: renovate, teardown, or flip the campus. He explained the flip the campus option as situating a new building on the lower backside of the property, with the structure possibly facing Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Mr. Bethea expressed concerns about that, since in his opinion, that ignored the science of having the building located on the highest point of the property. He further emphasized that is was for “good reason” that building was built on the upper portion of the property, and not in what he considered the valley of the property.
Daniel Coleman, local contractor and former president of the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, issued the following statement regarding the Ligon Building: “J.W. Ligon High School (Middle) is a part of East Raleigh, that has been historically defined as North, South and Central Planning District, and the South East Planning District. Those that purport to represent all of these historical boundaries are being asked to focus primarily on the areas south of the inner beltline, Southeast Raleigh, which promises a plenty if we forfeit our historical influence in the North, South and Central Planning Districts.”
Mr. Coleman’s statement went on to say, “In Latin, that is Quid Quo Pro. Therein taking J.W. Ligon from the prominent place, it currently occupies on top of the hill and lowering it to the area that is sometimes referred to as the Walnut Creek wetlands, is to emphasize that point. Much akin to what is left of the birthplace of The Carolinian, on the 500 Black of East Martin St, where only a simple marker abut 18” square remains, not to mention, no mention of WLLE Radio Station.”
He concluded, “I think those that really care, that call the shots, in Raleigh and Wake County, the message is clear, if J.W. Ligon is moved to the bottom of the hill then it is just another fatal blow being dealt to “Raleigh’s Historic Past of collaboration between all the people, for the people and by the people.”
Coleman had already called on the School Board to “Help guide a thoughtful vision for Ligon’s future, one that honors the community’s sacrifice in the 1970s and the school’s symbolic role as a “Beacon on the Hill.” Let us keep Ligon standing tall, a visible reminder of faith, hope, and love for generations to come, not a source of division.”
