Reviving the Oak Street School

The Grand Traverse District neighborhood began a major undertaking on Friday, Sept. 6 as its most prominent piece of blight, the former Oak Street School, officially started its transformation from eye sore to remodeled, functional property.
The project will be an almost one million dollar investment in the neighborhood and is estimated to be complete within 12 to 14 months.
Communities First, Inc. has worked for the past three years to purchase the building from The Genesee County Land Bank so the historical building could be renovated into a subsidized senior housing facility. The massive undertaking will be a collaborative effort between Communities First, Inc., HUD, the City of Flint, Michigan LISC, The Genesee County Land Bank, and MISHDA. Louis Berra, Field Office Director for HUD called the redevelopment a catalyst for further development.
Many are excited to see the project finally breaking ground including Attorney Fred Meiers whose office is just down the street from the aging school building.
“It’s exactly what we need in this community,” Meiers said at the ceremony that drew in many politicians and community leaders including Congressman Dan Kildee and City of Flint Mayor Dayne Walling whose father once attended the former Oak Street Elementary School.
President and Chief Executive officer of Communities First, Inc., Glenn Wilson led tours of the former school building prior to the ceremony explaining the care that the organization will be taking to maintain as much of the historical property as possible, including revitalizing the original wood work and repurposing the vintage chalk boards to be used in the main gathering areas of the building once the project is complete. Communities First, Inc. will also be taking huge steps to make the building as energy efficient as possible.
Congressman Dan Kildee expressed his optimism for the project’s reuse of land.
“Flint’s history can be a big part of our future,” Kildee said.
Once complete, the senior housing will be within walking distance of downtown Flint which Walling stated is a perfect place for senior living and allows the residents to have access to shops, city facilities, and the many events that take place near the historical neighborhood. The senior housing facility will also be providing its future residents with support services needed to maintain their independence, which will provide lasting employment in the neighborhood. The renovated building will offer its residents a library, a social area, and two floors of housing for up to 24 seniors.
Seniors age 62 or older who wish to obtain residency in the building will be able to submit applications two to three months prior to the building’s completion.
Stephanie can be reached at stwhitne@umflint.edu
Photos from top:
1. David Berto (far right), president of Housing Enterprises, Inc. which helped plan the renovations explains the building plans for the project to Mayor Dayne Walling, HUD Field office Director Louis Berra (center), and Communities First, Inc. President and CEO Glenn Wilson (right of center).
2.David Berto, president of Housing Enterprises, Inc. which helped plan the renovations explains the building plans for the project
3. Communities First, Inc. President and CEO Glenn Wilson, Congressman Dan Kildee, Mayor Dayne Walling, and leaders of the partnering organizations take part in the ceremonial first dig of the Oak Street School Renovation