Lansing Eastern Building Sold to Sparrow

On Thursday, the Lansing School District Board of Education approved a $2.475 million sale to the Edward W. Sparrow Hospital Association.

The agreement approves the sale of 18 acres of land including the building currently occupied by Eastern High School. The area is adjacent to the main hospital and allows Sparrow to develop a plan to maintain green spaces adjacent to the surrounding Eastern neighborhoods.

Eastern High School will be allowed to operate the building rent free for up to five years until the school district can renovate and expand into a new Eastern High School located on the nearby Pattengill Academy campus.

“The sale of Eastern High School and improvement in school facilities is a key component in our school district strategic plan and the Lansing Pathway Promise that invests and upgrades nearly all of our Lansing School District facilities to prepare students for the future,” said Board of Education president Peter Spadafore. “The old Eastern building has played an important role in the educational history and success of many Lansing students and alums, and I am confident the Eastern Quaker traditions and community commitment will live on in a new, nearby building that our students deserve."

In this deal, Sparrow will preserve the historical value of the property with reasonable and collaborative discretion while engaging high quality contractors who employ local skilled trades workers, according to a press release.

The deal also bargaining to begin between the school district and Sparrow in matters of providing education and training to students. The $120 million Lansing Pathway Promise bond proposal to fund school upgrades and improvements will be on the May 3, 2016 election ballot.