Cesar Chavez Academy - Preparation To Build A New Middle School

Preparation To Build A New Middle School

Once the high school was completed in 2003 the former high school modulars were moved over to the new high school campus and the Board then embarked upon its 5th building decision - to move the middle school from its far too distant location on Trumbull to a location closer to the High School. After unsuccessful attempts to purchase the vacant YMCA building on Clark and Vernor (offer made for $400,000 - owners sought $1.5 million) and an unsuccessful attempt to purchase property adjacent and across the side street from the high school, a decision was reached to build the middle school directly behind the high school on property already owned by the Board. In 2005 a bond issuance of $6.1 million dollars was issued through Municipal Capital Markets Group once again to build the middle school. An innovative approach was chosen for the construction of the building: pre-fabricated structures were built in Indiana and shipped to Detroit, then lifted into place by crane and finished by on site/traditional construction methods (i.e. glass lobby, stairwells, bricking of the building, etc.). The entire construction project took only 6 months (starting in March) and was completed in time for school to start in August 2005.

The bonds for both the High School and Middle School are payable over a 30-year period with dedicated time intervals for early repayment or refinancing at the decision of the Cesar Chavez Board. The issuance of these bonds – all done at the behest of the Cesar Chavez Board’s community volunteers – represent the largest investments ever taken in Southwest Detroit by a volunteer, community-based board. The oversight construction of the schools was also undertaken by Lopatin.