In a notable development for educational and community infrastructure in Detroit, the former Henry Ford Health Kingswood Hospital has been donated by Henry Ford Health to become the future site of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy's high school. As reported by ClickOnDetroit, this transition represents a change in the use of the infrastructure and aligns with efforts focused on education and community services.
Based on the article by Detroit Free Press, the shuttered hospital located at 10300 W. Eight Mile, which has served the community since 1966 as a psychiatric facility, ceased operations after the opening of a new facility in West Bloomfield Township. Scheduled for a major renovations and demolition, the over 70,000 square-foot building will accommodate the rising needs of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. The construction is expected to start later this year, with a projected completion date in time for the 2027-28 school year.
The transfer of the facility will allow the academy's high school, currently situated near Eight Mile and Greenfield roads, to expand services. According to CBS Detroit, the existing high school location will undergo revitalization to become a middle school, thus offering the academy's educational programs to younger students for the first time in grades 6 through 8.
Both organizations view this collaboration as a strategic venture, aligning educational needs with health system values. "We've long said that it was crucial to us to find a use for the former Kingswood Hospital that contributed to the betterment of our community, and we couldn't have found a better partner to make those goals a reality than the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy," told ClickOnDetroit by Henry Ford Health's President and CEO Bob Riney.
To fund the massive transformation and renovation project, the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy has announced plans to launch a $20 million capital campaign. With the establishment's belief that educational environments are a cornerstone for societal growth and improvement, former NBA star and academy founder Jalen Rose expressed gratitude for the donation. "We are so very grateful to our friends at Henry Ford Health for giving us the perfect place to grow our family and impact," Rose said in a statement obtained by CBS Detroit.
This partnership between Henry Ford Health and Jalen Rose Leadership Academy is anticipated to fortify the educational landscape of Detroit, providing young students a robust foundation to succeed in higher studies and future careers.
