On Friday, September 7, Communities First, Inc. hosted a ground breaking ceremony for Coolidge Park Apartments at the former Coolidge Elementary School. The Flint-based non-profit purchased the building in 2015 from the Flint School District and has been working to secure funds to bring new life to the beloved school.
Peggy Anderson was a student, student teacher and a full-time teacher for 30 years at Coolidge. She described Coolidge as “the place to be”. She remembers when Flint Schools added bussing for students and many children wanted to go there. Students were bussed in from Flint’s north side, “They found a home here, they were happy here, they learned here, it was a wonderful school,” she said.
Sue Goering, Vice President of the Glendale Hills Neighborhood Association, said that she looks forward to life being back in the building. “It has sat here since 2011 – shuttered, deteriorating, and it’s wonderful that its able to come back to life and there will be noise and joy and more stories to tell.”
Glenn Wilson, President and CEO of Communities First, Inc., has a special connection to the project. He was a student at Coolidge with his brother, sister and cousin who passed away in a house fire. This was the last school they attended together, and he is looking forward to bringing new life into a place where he left a part of himself.
There will be a mix of retail space, a community center and 54 units of much needed housing for Flint residents. For a recap video of the fantastic event and a sneak peak of the building, click here
This project is funded by Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, C.S. Mott Foundation, City of Flint, American Express Foundation, Hagerman Foundation and several others.