BUILDING FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY - Kennedy Bibliothek

a community center. With its lawns and park which were designed to form
an integral part of northwest mini-system, it has created a new atmosphere
of hope which finds its expression in the renovated and expensive newly
constructed houses in the immediate catchment area. Karl Grube at the
University of Michigan, who has invested several years of research in
the relationships of school sites and real estate values, informed us that
the houses built around Mack exceed the average price in Ann Arbor for a
house that size by $5-6 000. This is just one example of the increase in
real estate values which follows the co-ordination of recreational and
educational uses in school/park combinations. Another important indication
of the positive influence of the new school on its catchment area is that
white people have begun to move back into the area. The turn-over of
property has stabilised; the school has high attendance rates; vandalism
has gone down; and the staff and children are delighted to work in Mack.
ii) Bryant School
171. Bryant School, in the southeast quadrant of the city, was the first
of the capital program schools to be built and occupied. The Bryant community
grew during a major development scandal. Instead of the government -
stipulated mix of low and medium income housing, the developer built only
low-income units. This meant bigger families and larger schools. In
addition the developer donated a school site which had drainage problems
and thus required additional funds. In spite of the delays, arising out
of zoning and annexation procedures, the urgency of need and a determined
committee of parents and teachers led to the rapid construction of the
open plan school (see Figure 17).
172. In 1972 the lack of recreation facilities and social service agencies
caused a group of parents to form an incorporated body called Bryant
Neighborhood Steering Committee. Its constitutional goals are:
"To continue to support and enhance educational programs.
To continue to investigate the nutritional needs of the Bryant
Community and to continue 'to work, to develop, and deliver programs
where needed.
To continue to develop and enhance:
a) recreational
b) skill building programs, and
c) socialization programs accessible to the residents of the
Bryant Neighborhoods.
To provide supportive counseling services for the residents of the
Bryant Neighborhoods.
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