A lawsuit has been filed in an attempt to slam the brakes on the imminent demolition of Roosevelt Elementary in Keego Harbor. The suit, filed Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court, seeks not only a temporary restraining order but also a permanent injunction against the West Bloomfield School District's decision to bulldoze the over-century-old school building.
The legal challenge, backed by Heart of the Lakes Community, businessman Amir Daiza, and several residents, claims that the school board failed to properly deliberate or discuss publicly the demolition bids, choosing instead to quickly approve recommendations from AUCH Construction. "Defendants violated the Open Meetings Act when WBSD improperly delegated its authority to narrow bids submitted for demolition and asbestos abatement to AUCH in an apparent intentional effort to hide its decision-making from the public," the suit charged, according to The Oakland Press.
In response to the legal proceedings, Superintendent Dania Bazzi noted the timing of a $1.7 million offer from Roosevelt Historic Place, LLC, stating, "We cannot comment on pending litigation, but it is very interesting to me that someone who drops off a paper copy (of an offer) to my office at 4 p.m. on a Friday spends their Monday morning filing with the Oakland County court." This statement was obtained from the same The Oakland Press report.
Community members, led by Kirsten Douglass, have been fiercely campaigning to save the iconic building, a beacon of local heritage. "This is really the heart of our community," Douglass told FOX 2 Detroit. Even with local pushback and alternative redevelopment offers on the table, including turning classrooms into apartments, the school board insists on moving forward with what it deems necessary for the district's long-term planning.
Despite the efforts from locals and dissent from two board members, demolition prep is set to start, deepening the divide in the community over the fate of Roosevelt Elementary. The Wrecking ball may soon erase a chapter of Keego Harbor's collective memory unless the lawsuit can create a big enough roadblock. Details of the controversy and the lawsuit were outlined in articles from The Oakland Press, FOX 2 Detroit, and hoodline.
