If Central Middle School Closes, What Should Happen to Building?
Visions for Vacancies: Central Middle School faces closure as part of a May 7 bond proposal.
Central Middle School will be replaced under a $114 million bond proposal, if the measure is approved by voters on May 7.
Photos (1)
Photos
Plymouth's historic Central Middle School could cease to exist as an educational facility if voters support a May 7 bond measure.
Already, there has been chatter about what should happen to the school building if the bond passes and the building closes.
The historic building might not be the most energy-efficient, but does have a swimming pool and athletic fields.
What would you like to see in its place, should it close? Tell us in the comments.
katie f
7:35 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
I graduated in 1970. Our class was so large that we had to have our ceremony in Ann Arbor at Hill Auditorium, so that memory has no connection.
However, the Plymouth High building holds so much history, that it'd be sad to see it turned into some cutsey store or burger biggie.
The pool would be great to use again for water aerobics/exercise. I'd pay a membership for that.
Don Wilson
5:39 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
I graduated also in 1970 and my father in 1934 so the building holds alot of memoried, but life goes on and is it worth the cost to save? I agree I would hate to see it fall, but sometimes things happen for the best. I live in Denver now but track things that happen in Plymouth alot.
katie f
7:50 am on Sunday, February 10, 2013
so how often do you come back to Plymouth? It's different when you live here ...
Spar
5:51 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
YMCA should move in there and add fitness center.
tINA pIERZYNSKI
10:07 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
If it is an OK building to repair and use for something , then why are we not going to repair it and use it for the school? If it is worth putting money into to make it better, then it is worth it for whatever we use it for. I would like to see it brought up to par with the other schools and be used for exactly what it is now. My child's middle school. I have one there now and one who will be going there next year.
Danielle
3:15 am on Monday, February 18, 2013
Exactly! This building is at a crucial intersection in our community as well as provides a neighborhood school for a large number of downtown homes. Disinvestment begins with one building, then a neighborhood, then an entire community. I amazes me that in a metro-region so guilty of moving on and moving out that many don't realize it's our lack of willingness to invest in what exists that degrades our communities. The voters would be short-sighted to vote on this bond issue only thinking of the costs to PCCS; while taxes to deal with a vacant building may come from a different government entity, they all come out of the same pockets.
Karen Colone
2:48 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
I'm glad to see that some people don't think we should tear down Central! The new school wouldn't even be ready until fall of 2015 or even later. By that time our declining enrollments may not even rationalize a new school. Central may be closed due to our competitive environment with all the new charter & private schools. Everyone needs to call PCCS and find out why we've already spend millions on Central & it's still a mess? Just one bad remodel after another. The District office can be reached at 416-2700 (ask for Mary at ext. 3297).
Paul Schulz
6:08 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
I personally believe that Central should be saved, and general renovations made for upgrades, which cost far less than building a new extravagant facility. Don't listen to there renovation costs, they could be made relatively inexpensive, A/C, some new furniture. The basics to update Central, not there list. A school should remain in downtown Plymouth. However lets approach it this way, how about razing Central, and rebuilding the extravagant facility the spend, spend, spend, school board are in such desperate need for. Why not put a new facility within our borders. They own the property, its large enough, so why hasn't that been discussed I do not support this bond, there are benefits to books, not I-PADS. And learning to type is far more beneficial than a texting keyboard, and strain on the eyes. After listening to the board sell this proposal, It was't convincing to me, in fact it wasn't well thought out.
Karen Colone
5:37 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
Too late! I guess we' ll have a new middle school just it time for declining enrollments. After further research it turns out that our enrollments are forecasted to have aprox. 19% decline by fall of 2017. Now they'll also be able to close East too.
katie f
7:55 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
sad, isn't it ....now hopefully the post office will stay intact ...