Oak Street School Renovation Progress

Following the groundbreaking ceremony in September that announced the transformation of the former Oak Street School, Communities First hosted its first progress walk through open to the community on Nov. 22. Glenn Wilson, Communities First Executive Director, said that the organization will be hosting at least one more walk through before the opening of the soon to be Senior Housing Facility. Wilson stated that during the 12 month renovation, the organization wants to keep the public, “…actively engaged so people have a better understanding of what a project like this takes.”
Throughout the renovation process Communities First has been approached by many former students, teachers, and residents who wish to share their stories about the building so the organization has begun recording them through videotaped interviews.
“It’s capturing history,” said Essence Wilson with Communities First who stated that, “Keeping the meaning of the building,” was of high importance to the organization.
Former student Dan Pattee toured the building during the event and stated that he is excited about the organization’s plans for the building.
“It’s putting an asset to good work,” Pattee also shared his story about being a student at Oak Street School with Communities First’s cameraman inside his old second grade classroom.
The building was originally constructed in 1898 as Oak Street School until it closed in 1989 after providing kindergarten through sixth grade education to the community for almost 100 years. The building was then purchased by Community Mental Health who utilized the building for almost ten years. The property has remained vacant and a source of blight since CMH moved to another location in 1998. The completion of the current renovations in 2014 will bring a subsidized senior housing facility to the Grand
Traverse neighborhood and turn the dilapidated property into a source of employment and a model for energy efficiency through its use of high efficiency heating systems.
Communities First is attempting to maintain as much of the historical integrity of the building as possible in order to honor its history by reconstructing archways and repurposing as much of the wood work and chalkboards as possible. The organization is also allowing the local community to purchase a piece of history as a fundraiser. For a minimum $100 donation, supporters can purchase one of the original bricks from the building’s construction in 1898.
For more information about the renovation, how to share your story about Oak Street School, or how to purchase a brick, you can contact Communities First via email at info@CommunitiesFirst.org or follow the organization on Facebook or Twitter.