DETROIT (WXYZ) — The City of Detroit is taking crucial steps to improve the safety of residents in the Joy Road and Lawson area. After decades of neglect, the former Brady Elementary School is finally closed and made safe, addressing long-standing concerns of community members.

Brady Elementary School was once a bustling school that welcomed students every morning until it closed in 2007. Today, after years of neglect, the City of Detroit Safety Team is fighting the blight, a building at a time.

Michael Watts once attended Brady Elementary School.

He expressed his relief, “I’m glad they’re putting it on board and not scrapping it.”

Bernita Johnson, a former staff member, shared her memories of the school.

“There are a lot of memories here, especially with my daughter. » she remembered how well-kept the school used to be. “Fresh paint, floors cleaned and waxed.”

For nearly 17 years, Brady Elementary School has been the victim of vandalism and deterioration. Visible deterioration includes crumbling ceilings, broken glass and even a tree growing on the roof.

Johnson lamented: “It’s just a shame to see that it’s gone down. »

Tim Palazzolo of the Detroit Building Authority highlighted the dangers posed by such abandoned properties: “It’s open to the elements and intrusion, and it’s a danger – that’s the bottom line.”

He stressed that initiatives like this are essential to keeping Detroit’s neighborhoods safe, with thousands of properties secured since the program began.

Palazzolo added: “This is not a singular event. This happens 52 weeks a year.

Michael Watts reflected on the importance of the school to the community, “This school is part of the community. We grew up here; we were a family.

He remembers his time at Brady fondly, noting the positive experiences he had with the teachers and staff.

Looking to the future, Watts expressed his hope for the future of Brady Elementary: “It’s a great school. The structure is still intact. Although it requires a lot of work, this building can be redeveloped.

As the City of Detroit continues to secure abandoned properties, the community remains hopeful for a revitalized future for once-beloved institutions like Brady Elementary.

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