Thursday, March 28, 2024

E.L. City Council rules to shut down Bailey Community Center, cites costs

January 21, 2015
<p>Lansing resident Nora Polley dabs her artwork during a drawing and painting class Nov. 6 2013, at the Bailey Community Center. Polley said she has always wanted to learn to paint and found a great teacher at the community center. Olivia Dimmer/The State News</p>

Lansing resident Nora Polley dabs her artwork during a drawing and painting class Nov. 6 2013, at the Bailey Community Center. Polley said she has always wanted to learn to paint and found a great teacher at the community center. Olivia Dimmer/The State News

Photo by Olivia Dimmer | The State News

The Bailey Community Center is located on 300 Bailey St., just north of Grand River Avenue.

“It’s an old school,” City Manager George Lahanas said in an interview last Friday. “It’s in pretty rough shape.”

The community center was originally a multi-story structure constructed in 1922 as an East Lansing public school.

The decision to close down the community center and the childcare program came down to money.

“If we keep operation going through next June 30 (we) will have lost $275,000 on this operation in two years,” Lahanas said. “It’s our view to wind it down and close the building and find another use for the building or get rid of the building.”

It wasn’t all about money for some local residents, who implored council to leave the community center open before the council made their decision late on Tuesday night.

“This park is what allowed our children to meet some of their new best friends after moving across the country,” Erin Graham, an assistant history professor at MSU. She and her two daughters — ages 9 and 11 — live in the Bailey neighborhood. “Childcare is a vital part to any livable community.”

However, money was a factor, which could not be ignored.

“You got to figure out a way where (Bailey Community Center) is going to make money,” East Lansing resident Jeff Baten said.

Baten said student housing would be the best use for the Bailey Community Center. He also said the facility could be used as an art studio.

Discussion

Share and discuss “E.L. City Council rules to shut down Bailey Community Center, cites costs” on social media.