After nearly two years of listening and sharing, we have received invitations from hundreds of Cooley residents and alumni who are ready for Life Remodeled to join in partnership with the Cooley Community.
Our goal is to transform Cooley High School into an opportunity hub for Detroiters of ALL ages. It would be similar to our current Durfee Innovation Society, but adapted to the ideas, hopes and dreams of Cooley community residents and alumni. The Durfee Innovation Society is home to nearly 40 of Detroit's best-and-brightest nonprofits and several amazing businesses committed to creating opportunities for all Detroiters in the areas of youth programming, jobs, and community resources. 77% of the organizations located at the Durfee Innovation Society are led by People of Color, and 67% are led by women. The building is 100% occupied and financially self-sustainable, meaning no additional donations are needed for operations.
Click here to check out this video and see what the Durfee Innovation Society is all about.
Additionally, Life Remodeled desires to provide at least three years of neighborhood beautification, blight removal and free home repairs. Home repairs include the choice of a new roof, new windows, or new furnace.
Cooley High School has been sitting vacant and rotting since 2010… the windows and much of the copper have been ripped out, there was a fire that decimated the auditorium, and there are substantial active roof leaks that are on the verge of destroying the very foundation of this building beyond repair if they aren’t repaired soon.
Even though all of this is true, the story of Cooley High School does not have to be over. We have an opportunity to put this facility to use - in ways community members want - before it’s too late.
If you are interested in viewing it, here is the full community announcement and press conference we hosted on November 10. In this video, you will see that Life Remodeled has secured commitments from several organizations who provide services requested by community residents and local students, including Methodist Children’s Home Society, as they desire to create the largest pediatric mental health respite center in Detroit, and locate it inside Cooley.
McDougle Technical Institute is a junior college in South Florida, started by a former Detroit Lions player, Stockar McDougle, and the McDougles are committed to launch their vocational trades school and junior college at Cooley.
Lional Dalton is a Cooley alumus who played for the 2001 Raven’s Superbowl Championship team. If we are able to successfully purchase the Cooley property soon, we plan to donate more than ⅓ of the 18 acre property to the Daltons and the McDougles, and they intend to build a synthetic football field for the community and student housing for the junior college.
We’re have also signed Letters of Intent with a large Federally Qualified Health Center, a construction trades school, a Health & Wellness Opportunity Center, and an IT Innovation Center.
If we are able to move forward and purchase Cooley High School, our approach will always be transparent and equitable with community leadership and involvement throughout the entire development process.
By signing this petition, you are supporting Life Remodeled’s desire to purchase and repurpose Cooley High School.