UM-Sparrow ends talks with group that wants to preserve old Eastern High School

Dear readers,

University of Michigan Health-Sparrow informed me today that it will no longer meet with the group of alumni, eastside residents and preservationists who are trying to save old Eastern High School from demolition.

The decision came in an email from UM-Sparrow spokesperson John Foren that accused members of the Committee to Preserve Historic Eastern and Promote Mental Health of not acting in good faith.

The committee regrets that UM-Sparrow has taken this position. But we stand prepared to resume discussions at any time.

UM-Sparrow has proposed tearing down old Eastern, a community landmark, to make room for a psychiatric hospital. Our committee applauds and supports UM-Sparrow’s desire to improve mental healthcare in our community. At the same time, we want to preserve old Eastern, an architectural and historical landmark. We continue to hope that we will resume discussions about all of the options.

Foren’s letter, unfortunately, but unfairly, places all the blame on our committee for UM-Sparrow's unilateral decision to curtail discussions. Here is what he said:

“We wanted to let you know that we feel some of your and other group leader’s actions have not been in good faith as we discuss a behavioral health facility on our extended campus. As a result, we are not comfortable with moving forward with a future meeting with the group.

 “While we approached our interactions with the group in good faith and with the best of intentions, we believe some of the public comments and actions (citing a recording from the meeting, etc.) have been adversarial in nature and in opposition to the spirit of cooperation we hoped to establish.

 “We remain committed to working with the community on this project. We especially hope we can collaborate on ideas on preserving the historical legacy of Eastern.”

 “Thank you.”

Foren objected to my quoting from the meeting to correct the misimpression in a Lansing State Journal story about our group’s position on a tour of Eastern that we had requested.

The Journal reported that Foren said our committee had agreed to a tour only for our committee members who had met with UM-Sparrow executives to discuss preservation.

That just isn’t true — in fact, the opposite: Our request was not for ourselves but for a preservationist to go on the tour. To correct the record and unfair impression of our committee that was left with Journal readers, I published this exchange between Joan Nelson and Margaret Dimond, president of UM-Sparrow, that occurred at our meeting with UM officials:

Nelson: “So Margaret, if your architectural team or your design folks can walk through your campus and consider that whole set of buildings that you’re talking about building, would it be helpful as they look at Eastern High School to have somebody from the historic preservation community who is familiar with the school walk along with them and point out those aspects that have the greatest historic value or aesthetic value? I mean, just to be helpful?”

Dimond: “No, I think that’s a great idea. I can’t speak for them, but we can bring that to their attention as early as tomorrow.”

How Foren could have concluded what he did is beyond me. As for whether I was being “adversarial” in refuting his position, there would have been no need to correct the record publicly if he had not publicly misrepresented our committee's decision.  

Foren expressed UM-Sparrow’s desire to “work with the community” and “collaborate on ideas to preserve the historical legacy of Eastern.”

First, the best way to preserve Eastern's “historical legacy” is to preserve Eastern itself.

As for “working with the community,” Jim Lynch, president of the Eastern High School Alumni Association and a committee member, said it best:

“I find it interesting that they don’t want to meet with us again but want to work with the community to preserve the legacy of Eastern,” Lynch said. “Aren’t we the community?”

Here is who we are, besides myself:

1^st Ward Council member Ryan Kost

Jim Lynch, president of the Eastern High School Alumni Association

Kittie Lynch, a retired teacher at Eastern

 Joan Nelson, the retired founding executive director of the Allen Neighborhood Center

Joe Enerson, Nelson’s successor as the ANC’s executive director

Preservation Lansing President Mary Toshach

Dale Schrader, Preservation Lansing’s former president

Eastside Neighborhood Organization President Nancy Mahlow

Bill Castanier, president of the Historical Society of Greater Lansing.

Jennie Grau, president of Grau Interpersonal Communication

Retired Eastern alumna Rebecca Stimson

Andrew Muylle, an Eastern alumnus.

You’ll hear much more from us soon as we continue to pursue our goal of preserving historic Eastern High School, hopefully in cooperation with UM-Sparrow.

(Berl Schwartz is the editor and publisher of City Pulse)