[Velvet_Highground]

Awesome to see these development moving forward quickly. In a way the MSU medical research facility is the culmination of tech town one of the seminal neighborhoods for Detroit’s rebirth.

It’s hard not to like a Lions practice facility in Detroit especially with the Herman Kiefer building incorporated into it. If they chose this site I hope they can do more to preserve the other historic structures on site. I’ve heard Hutchins Intermediate School on Woodrow Wilson had an award winning program in the mid 2000’s with a AOL computer lab (yeah laugh it up AOL was big in the early to mid 2000’s). However the closure of Crossman Alternative High formerly Crossman Elementary saw its students moved to Hutchins. A good deal of the area immediately around the school never recovered from 67 enrollment dropped at both schools. It wasn’t helped that Hutchins was turned into a National Guard Command Post.

The scene from Detroit of troops shooting out lights by Algiers Motel may have been adapted from Hitchens Intermediate School as the Vice Principal was told we couldn’t find the light switch. There’s still bullet holes in the school’s eves. According to local residents scrapers Hutchins hard coming in with U-Hauls during the recession through bankruptcy period. The adjacent blocks became blighted despite its excellent location between Virginia park and Boston - Edison.

I’m unsure of the conditions at Crossman if it can be saved it should be tried yet preservation of Herman Kiefer would be a win for the local and greater community. The opening of a training facility while a loss for Allen Park a good community would get Herman Kiefer renovated many athletic assets, a park and pavilions added to the local community.

Though I’m not certain the owner took on responsibility for vacant homes adjacent to the complex if the yellow lines on the map are an indication of that being part of a potential deal it would soften the blow of losing two historic schools. I think at this point the private sector and a Lions Facility would be inducement enough considering the high quality of the surrounding neighborhoods. However this is Detroit nothing comes easy it’s sad to lose two historic schools but they’re not doing anything for the community the lions training facility will & revive a stalled redevelopment.