Court temporarily stops demolition of 1920s school building

Circuit Court Judge Phyllis McMillen last week issued a temporary restraining order against the West Bloomfield School District, barring them from tearing down the century-old Roosevelt Elementary school building. Despite outcry from the community, the district voted in favor of demolishing the building, which has been closed since 2022.

Last week, an eleventh-hour offer was made by an architect and a business owner who said they were willing to buy the school for $1.7 million and repurpose it. The school, which sits in the heart of Keego Harbor, has been closed since a partial ceiling collapse in the building in 2022.

The school board rejected that $1.7 million offer, deciding to follow through with plans to demolish the property. But on March 22, Judge McMillen put a temporary stop to any such demolition after a motion was filed by nonprofit Heart of the Lakes Community.

The nonprofit argues the district began demolishing Roosevelt Elementary “immediately” instead of waiting until April 8 as “previously stated.” Heart of the Lakes Community says it conducted a monthslong investigation and believes the district has “repeatedly made false claims and hidden important information from the Board of Education and the public for many years to justify demolition.”

After ordering a temporary injunction to halt the demolition process, a judge is scheduled to hold a hearing on the nonprofit’s motion at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27. It was unknown if the judge would issue an order on Wednesday. Motion hearings typically involve the judge hearing arguments for and against the motion from both sides.

The group in favor of saving the old school building said they were “disturbed by the district’s brazenness” to begin demolition “before the court even ruled,” and despite the $1.7 million off on the table.

For months, neighbors of the historic Keego Harbor school have begged the school board to slow down the demolition and consider the offer. The hope was that the building would be repurposed into apartments or condos, rather than be torn down completely. Nearly 1,500 people signed an online petition seeking to save the building.

“There’s no denying that the community cares,” Keego Harbor resident Kirsten Douglas said at a meeting last week. “As demonstrated by our voices and our solution-oriented actions, I ask you to pause and change course. I’m asking you once again to listen to your community. A plan that we are passionate about. Stop the demolition.”

On Monday, March 18, officials voted 4-2 to proceed with the demolition and abatement of Roosevelt Elementary, located on Cass Lake Road north of Orchard Lake Road.