(This story has been updated. An earlier version misspelled Tirstan Walters’ name. City Pulse regrets the error.)
When University of Michigan Health-Sparrow demolished the historic Eastern High School as part of a plan to build a mental health facility on its grounds, some bemoaned a lack of preservation ethic in Lansing. City Pulse asked all 13 council candidates how they felt about the demolition, whether they would prioritize preservation and how they would prevent a similar situation.
Julie Vandenboom (at-large) was outspoken against the demolition. She said the building held “deep history, community meaning and architectural significance.” As a Councilmember, she said she would prioritize earlier intervention for at-risk structures, including stronger preservation policies and clearer communication. She called the conversion of the Walter French school into affordable housing “a great example of how we can honor our past while adapting for the future.”
Heath Lowry (4th Ward) said he will support “proactive engagement, early intervention in the deterioration, collaboration with preservation groups, and stronger policy tools” to ensure Eastern’s demolition does not repeat itself. He called the demolition “a painful loss to Lansing’s history and identity.”
Miles Biel (at-large) said he would prioritize preservation by advocating for “early identification of at-risk structures, stronger incentives for adaptive reuse, and more public input before major demolition decisions.” He added he would work “to ensure Lansing’s unique character isn’t lost to short-term decisions.”
Nick Pigeon (at-large) expressed frustration with a lack of transparency from UM-Sparrow, which he said did not adequately explain the necessity of demolishing the building’s historic west wing and auditorium. While he places “a high priority” mental health services and UM-Sparrow’s “substantial cash investment” in the area, he said there was too little transparency, not enough community involvement and “no independent assessment of renovation costs.” He said the community should have more input in preservation talks.
Tirstan Walters (at-large) said he was excited about the new facility, but that “the lack of dialogue and communication regarding the demolition of old Eastern High School did not help our community on the east side feel engaged with the new management at UM-Sparrow.” He advocates for a Historic District Commission empowered to put together “possible sites for preservation in Lansing to keep our historically significant buildings.”
Clara Martinez (at-large) also said she would empower the Historic District Commission and that preservation should be a priority moving forward, but that she supports UM-Sparrow’s “critical investment in expanded mental health care for our residents.”
Peter Spadafore (4th Ward), who penned an op-ed in the Lansing State Journal opposing efforts to preserve Eastern in 2024, called the demolition “an unfortunate outcome of decades of neglect.” He said the mental health facility was necessary. He called himself a “strong supporter of historic preservation,” expressing gratitude that the Oliver Towers, the Masonic Temple in Old Town and the Walter French school were being redeveloped. He said he also supported the failed attempt to move City Hall to the Masonic Temple downtown last year.
Zacharie Spurlock (4th Ward) said he was grateful to see old Eastern demolished “with purpose,” but that “it’s important to recognize the emotional impact demolishing history has.” He added he would fight for historic preservation when possible as well as advocating for developments that “benefit all of Lansing’s citizens” when preservation is out of the council’s hands.
Aurelius Christian (at-large), an Eastern graduate, said the loss “weighs heavily” but that mental health services are “critical for Lansing’s future.”
Jeremy Garza (at-large) said he supports historic preservation when feasible, but that Eastern was “not a realistic candidate for restoration.” He said he fully supports the UM-Sparrow facility.
Jonah Stone (at-large) took it a step further, saying he was “all for the demolition and replacement of the building” due to the necessity of the mental health facility, but that “the replacement of historic buildings is case-by-case.”
For herself, Gloria Denning (at-large) just said that “some might say ‘out with the old and in with the new,’” but that her husband, an Eastern graduate, called it a “tragedy” and a broken promise.
At-large candidate Olivia Vaden did not respond.
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