UM-Sparrow seeks city permission to demolish Eastern

University of Michigan Health-Sparrow has submitted a request to the city of Lansing to permit it to demolish old Eastern High School to make room for the construction of a psychiatric facility, Schor administration spokesperson Scott Bean confirmed Tuesday.

Approval may come yet this week, Bean said. He said Rawley Van Fossen, the city economic planning and development director, has to sign off on the request. Bean said it usually takes a couple of days to check on technical issues, such as whether UM-Sparrow’s choice for a demolition company is licensed. Bean cited no grounds for denying the request because of opposition.

(For more information on the city’s demolition process, see https://www.lansingmi.gov/759/Demolition.)

Old Eastern, was sold to Sparrow Health System in 2015 and closed in 2019. U of M Health acquired it as part of taking over Sparrow in 2023. Old Eastern is on Pennsylvania Avenue north of Michigan Avenue, adjacent to Sparrow Hospital.

Demolition opponents organized the Coalition to Preserve Eastern High School and Promote Mental Health last year after UM-Sparrow revealed its plan to build a $97 million psychiatric facility on the site, on Pennsylvania Avenue near Jerome Street, adjacent to Sparrow Hospital.

In a statement Tuesday, coalition member Andrew Muylle said, “The coalition is disappointed that request for total demolition of Eastern has come after many months of attempted collaboration, and without any public notice.

“The coalition is still working to preserve the historically significant west wing and auditorium, which do not touch the proposed footprint of the new mental health facility. Please visit easternfacts.com ASAP to sign a petition to save the west wing and aud.”

Muylle said 553 people have signed it.

Added Muylle, “Ask the mayor and officials who can help us to ensure that the west wing and aud. remain standing for preservation analysis, while allowing the demolition of the remainder of Eastern and construction of the new facility, to please do so.”

Opponents are still organizing themselves in an effort to block demolition. One organizer, Rebecca Stimson, said that a picketing team will meet today and that she expected it will be at City Hall Thursday.

Asked for comment, UM-Sparrow declined to confirm it had submitted a demolition request. But it issued a statement Tuesday that said in part:

“The old Eastern High School was constructed nearly a century ago to serve students and teachers, but years of deterioration, including extensive water damage, mold and asbestos, have left it beyond repair and unsuitable for safe, effective clinical care.

“Given these challenges, the building is being thoughtfully removed to make way for a modern facility designed specifically to meet the community’s behavioral health needs.

“To honor the history and legacy of Eastern High School, we are working with alumni to preserve meaningful artifacts and establish a memorial garden on the site.”

The U of M Board of Regents must still approve the psychiatric facility. Its next meeting is March 20.

Its statement reiterated its contention that the facility must be close to Sparrow Hospital, particularly the emergency room.

“To ensure the new facility meets the needs of both patients and care teams, it must be in proximity to the UM Health-Sparrow Emergency Department, have sufficient acreage for a calming outdoor clinical environment and an internal layout that complies with regulatory requirements for clinical services and supports safety,” today’s statement said.

The demolition-approval process does not require input from either the mayor or the City Council. Mayor Andy Schor initially sought a path to avoid demolition but has long indicated that he was not optimistic. Last year under pressure from both UM-Sparrow and trade unions, the City Council rejected an attempt to have old Eastern declared a historic site, which would have preserved at least the façade.