A wrecking ball could be headed toward Grand Rapids Elementary school at the end of this school year. It was for sale for a dollar, but a village council member says the state stepped in, willing to pay for demolition. It's funding given from the state since Grand Rapids students will go to the new Otsego Elementary in the Fall.
Lynn Sylvain and a investing partner developed a plan to turn the school into an arts and education building, but she says the Mayor is bent on the destruction of the school. She has rallied others together to save it. On Thursday night they plead their case to the building committee. The forum over the fate of Grand Rapids Elementary got heated.
"We want to have a facility that focuses on art education, senior enrichment and being a community resource. We think it blends the attributes of the community into a resource that we already own," Lynn Sylvain, said.
She and her investing partner, Dr, E. Dorinda Shelley want to turn the building into and art and education center. They say they already have teachers volunteering to give classes
I'm worried that we do not have enough things going on in this community to keep children interested in it. It will turn into a community of elders," Dr. Shelley said.
Grand rapids Mayor, Marjory Obermyer, told residents she's worried about financial liability.
Councilman Curt Williams said the state offered to demo the building since schools combined to a centralized location with Otsego.
"The village is concerned that if this business starts and fails, then we're going to be responsible for demolishing this eyesore in our village," Williams said.
Some local business owners said any investment carries some risk.
"As business owners in the downtown area, we are all for having something positive, artsy, we want young people being involved with elderly people, we want a nice mix, we want creative activity throughout the whole area," Deborah Hertzfed, a business owner, said.
Council member Williams is hoping they resolve this emotional issue at their regular meeting on Monday night.
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