A group of organizations on the west side of Grand Rapids hope to turn the vacant, 101-year-old Stocking Elementary School building into a community hub with several nonprofit service providers and potentially housing.
The West Grand Neighborhood Organization, whose territory includes the former school that closed last year and is set on 3.59 acres, sent a proposal in May to Grand Rapids Public Schools. The conceptual plan for the community hub estimates raising about $10 million through grants, donors and fundraising to renovate the old school building into a community center and gathering place that would centrally locate service organizations under one roof.
“We made it known before the school even closed that we wanted this to be turned into a community hub,” said Annette Vandenberg, executive director of the West Grand Neighborhood Organization. “It would just be a nice, neutral place to be able to come and to be a place for people to connect with other people and resources.”…