As demolition nears, Cooley High alumni make plea to preserve school’s legacy

June 11, 2026

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is moving forward with demolishing the historic but long-vacant Cooley High School, which closed in 2010, to build a multi-phase sports complex primarily serving nearby Cody High School. The $25 million project, funded through state grants and foundation fundraising, has sparked significant controversy among Cooley alumni who say they learned about the demolition through social media and feel excluded from decision-making. While district officials cite safety concerns, criminal activity, and community complaints about blight as justification, they also plan to preserve some architectural elements like bricks and the building's bell for distribution to alumni or incorporation into the new complex.

Who is affected

Cooley High School alumni (including Leonard Reid, Chet Pitts, Sarah Pitts, Grace Moore, and Rafeal Peterson)
Current Cody High School students and athletic teams
Denby High School football team members
Residents and businesses living near the Cooley building
Community members in the surrounding neighborhood
Detroit Public Schools Community District students
Pop Warner youth football program participants
Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) members
DPSCD Foundation donors

What action is being taken

Salvage work at Cooley has begun with fencing installation to secure the property
The district is hosting community engagement meetings (in-person and virtual sessions)
Chet Pitts is circulating a petition to save Cooley that has gathered 1,087 signatures as of Thursday afternoon
The DPSCD Foundation is raising funds for the project (has raised $10 million of the total $25 million needed)

Why it matters

This situation highlights the tension between preserving historically significant architecture that holds deep cultural meaning for communities and addressing urgent safety and development needs. The Cooley building represents identity, memories, and educational legacy for alumni, while simultaneously posing safety risks through criminal activity, fires, and structural deterioration. The controversy underscores broader issues about community engagement in public decision-making, particularly regarding how districts communicate major changes to stakeholders. The sports complex represents a significant investment in current students' athletic opportunities, but the manner of its implementation raises questions about balancing progress with historical preservation and ensuring meaningful community input in urban redevelopment projects.

What's next

Phase one demolition and track/field resurfacing is set for completion by September 30
Phase two (artificial turf field, track, additional parking, and shot put/discus practice area) is scheduled for completion in fall 2028
Cooley architectural features (bricks, terra cotta medallions, entry archways, and bell) will be preserved and incorporated during phase two
Cleaned bricks will be distributed to alumni
Bell towers may be placed at the corners of Hubbell Avenue and Chalfonte Street or at Hubbell and Fenkell
Phase three (indoor complex) is conceptual and awaits additional funding

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com