LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The destiny of outdated Japanese Excessive Faculty, a Lansing landmark, is hanging within the steadiness proper now as the local people and the constructing’s homeowners stand opposed on whether or not to protect the outdated constructing or make means for a brand new behavioral well being facility.
The College of Michigan Well being-Sparrow bought the constructing in 2016, and it shut down in 2019. Plans to transform the constructing right into a 120-bed psychiatric facility had been introduced 5 years later, this previous June, in a bid to deal with what they name a “behavioral health crisis.”
Outdated Japanese Excessive Faculty (WLNS)
Alternatively, the Historic Society of Better Lansing needs to see it preserved—a minimum of partly.
“There is an emotional connection with every building that’s almost 100 years old,” says William Castanier, president of the society. “High school is the most formative years for most people, y’know they often met their wife there. They immediately went from that school to World War Two or Vietnam.”
Representatives from the society took to Monday’s Metropolis Council assembly, to share their imaginative and prescient with native management and name on them to intervene.
They advised councilmembers that whereas they assist the opening of a brand new behavioral well being middle and applaud the well being system for recognizing that want locally, they need to see the historic west wing of the college and the Jon Younger Auditorium integrated into the brand new facility.
“Imagine what a collaboration of this nature, with the tandem goal of restoring a piece of a treasured building just blocks from the Michigan Capitol and the creation of a facility for desperately needed services could mean for our capital city,” stated Andrew Muylle, who graduated from Japanese Excessive in 2013.
Whereas the council heard public feedback on the subject, it wasn’t on their agenda, so the assembly adjourned after feedback had been heard.
