Court of Appeals order keeps demolition of Roosevelt school on hold during appeal

Keego Harbor — The Michigan Court of Appeals issued an order on Tuesday keeping the demolition of a century-old former elementary school in Keego Harbor on hold.

The order from the three-judge panel allows a group of Oakland County activists who are suing to preserve the 104-year-old Roosevelt Elementary School time to file appeals and blocks the West Bloomfield School District from moving forward with plans to tear down the school.

The district had wanted to begin preparing the property in Keego Harbor for demolition in April and scheduled demolition of the 70,000-square-foot school for June.

Oakland County Judge Phyllis McMillen had issued a two-week stay earlier this month that expired on Tuesday.

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Activists, who've formed a community development corporation called Heart of the Lakes, have been fighting for months to save the former school and have the building repurposed. The group sued the district last month to stop demolition.

Derek T. Howard, an attorney for those suing, said he and his clients are "delighted" by appeals court decision.

"The community is justifiably passionate about this beautiful building and is equally passionate about its right to transparency in government, which is a central issue in our case," he said.

Attorneys for the district were not immediately available.

Established in 1920, the former Roosevelt Elementary has been an anchor for the 2,700-resident Oakland County community of Keego Harbor, supporters said. The colonial-style brick and wood structure sits adjacent to the local police station and City Hall.

The school was closed in 2022 and its students were moved to another building in West Bloomfield schools. District officials have said the elementary school building is unsafe for students, financially irresponsible to maintain on the taxpayers' dime and a potential threat in the competition for future students.

jchambers@detroitnews.com