According to an article by Joanna Lin of Allstonia, (dated 12/2025) uncertainty continues to surround the future of the Jackson Mann site in Brighton. The Jackson Mann School closed in 2022, followed by the Horace Mann School for the Deaf in 2023. While the building is currently being used in a limited capacity as a community center, the facility is in need of significant repairs, and many residents say the existing setup does not meet the neighborhood’s needs.
Kelly McGrath, Executive Director of Brighton Main Streets, a Brighton resident, and a board member of the Jackson Mann Community Center, voiced frustration over the prolonged lack of clarity and progress.
“We can’t continue another five, six, ten years down the road with no community center for our neighborhood. It’s just not fair, and it’s sort of unacceptable. A definitive timeline would be nice,” McGrath said. “These meetings started back before COVID. We’re going into 2026, and we still don’t have an answer.”