 The Paige Woodson School was originally constructed in 1910 and functioned as an all-white elementary school until 1934 when it became Frederick Douglass High School, Oklahoma City's only African-American high school. It was notable for its faculty, alumni and curricula and as an emblem of African-American progress in the civil rights era. After sitting vacant for 20 years and experiencing multiple fires and vandalism, the dilapidated structure was purchased by Paige Woodson Development LLC in 2013. The school has since been reimagined as a residential and community space that includes 60 affordable housing units and a 700-seat auditorium for community meetings and performances. The restoration created a 100% affordable housing option and an auditorium that will be leased back to Oklahoma City's Community Development Corporation for $1 per year. The building's original art deco details, limestone accents and various school themes have largely been restored and continue to draw people to the development. The project took advantage of a collaborative public-private partnership that included the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority and the National Park Service. Historic tax credits and extensive community outreach were also critical in the success of this development. Paige Woodson School demonstrates how the preservation of an architecturally and historically significant structure can also address the urgent needs of a community.