Keego Harbor Residents Rally to Preserve Historic Roosevelt Elementary School

Residents of Keego Harbor, Michigan are fighting to save the historic Roosevelt Elementary School from demolition. The school, which was built in the 1920s and closed in 2016, has been a beloved landmark in the community for nearly a century.

The West Bloomfield School District, which owns the property, has proposed demolishing the building to make way for a new development. However, many Keego Harbor residents argue that the school has significant historical and architectural value and should be preserved.

"This school is a part of our community's history and identity," said Sarah Thompson, a lifelong Keego Harbor resident who attended Roosevelt Elementary as a child. "It would be a shame to see it torn down and replaced with something generic and soulless."

Supporters of preserving the school have formed a grassroots organization called Save Roosevelt Elementary. The group has been circulating petitions, holding rallies, and lobbying local officials to halt the demolition plans.

"We believe there are viable alternatives to demolition, such as repurposing the building for community use or converting it into housing," said Michael Chen, a spokesperson for Save Roosevelt Elementary. "We're urging the school district to explore these options before resorting to tearing down this historic gem."

Why this matters: The fate of Roosevelt Elementary School highlights the ongoing tension between preserving historic structures and making way for new development in communities across the country. The outcome of this debate could set a precedent for how other historic buildings are treated in the future.

The West Bloomfield School District has said it will consider the community's input before making a final decision on the future of Roosevelt Elementary. A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for next month, where residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions directly to school district officials. "We want to do what's best for the community as a whole," said a district spokesperson. "We'll be taking all perspectives into account before charting a path forward."

Key Takeaways

• Residents of Keego Harbor, MI fight to save historic Roosevelt Elementary School from demolition.
• School district proposes demolition for new development, but residents argue for preservation.
• Grassroots group "Save Roosevelt Elementary" formed to halt demolition and explore alternatives.
• Fate of school highlights tension between historic preservation and new development.
• School district to consider community input before making final decision on school's future.