Diana Ross and Jack White's Detroit High School Set for Demolition

I was graduated from Cass Tech in 1957; it was considered the best public high school in Detroit. Many of my classmates came from outside of Detroit (but used Detroit addresses of course; the academic excellence was that well known). I lived near 8 mile and John R; that required 3 busses or 1 bus, a streetcar and a 3 block walk to get to school each morning. It was well worth it.

But it was the faculty and the other students that made it so great. Hopefully that is still true in the newer Cass Tech building. The old building itself, taught me nothing (except how to run up or down stairs when I missed the elevator!). Although I hate to see it torn down, I also hate to see it empty and vandalised. So if no one can come up with a good use, then maybe we should let it go?
Jeraldine (MICHAELS) Anandan

I was in Detroit in 2004 to see Diana Ross in concert at the Opera House. I took along my wife and 2 granddaughters. Somehow we took a wrong turn and ended up in a very scary part of the city. In fact, my 2 granddaughters are Black and we, their grandparents, are White. My grandkids were so afraid of what they were seeing with the derelicts, drunks, and crackheads on the sidewalks that they pleaded with me to make sure the doors were locked!

By the way , what is the address to which a person can
send money ?????????

This building has survived so many attempts to demolish it- except this time. As a 1978 grad I can tell you it was in bad shape when I left. It lacked air conditioning, a modern heating element, leaky windows and infrastructural upgrades a building that had been open since 1912 needed.

When I was in the building the last time (Valentine Breakfast- Feb 2004) it was in horrible shape- including the ugly, ill-fitting addition built in 1985. The new addition had unusable bathrooms, poor workmanship and looked like an ugly coat cemented onto a past its prime patron.

At that same breakfast a presentation was made by pro-building advocates from the alumni association. The Alumni Association was asking people to donate money so they could raise $10 million for a building feasibility study and inspection.

People got up and left after the principal scolded the audience for their vocal negative reactions. The Alumni Association's membership was decimated by defections- many did not want their membership money going toward this effort. As result a non profit was set up to save the school building.

That non-profit yielded little results and money. The site has barely been updated since it was created (http://casstechhistoric.org/) other than with the news the building will be torn down.

This empty hull sits next to the new Cass tech. It has been set ablaze during school days threatening the safety of those in the new building. It is apparent that homeless people are also using it as a house- another threat to the safety of the people next door.


While some are lamenting that the Detroit school board allowed the building to fall into disrepair that is not the complete truth. the building was scheduled to be torn down to make way for an expanded parking area and softball fields. When a few people began making noises about saving the building the feckless board caved it.

As a result the parking/softball fields plans were scrapped. The resulting redesign left the football field/track area outside of regulations.

The building is located in one of the most depressed areas of Detroit. Some of the vacant buildings have been so since I went to school there. It is an area that even with the new building (and nearby new casinos) it has not undergone a revival.

Misguided attempts to save the old building has hurt the new building. I am glad my niece decided not to go there out of fear for her safety and I suspect many parents have done the same.

I loved the old building yet understand it had long outlived its usefulness. I hope to get a brick from the rubble after it is torn down.

Too little & way too late. Lets move on,and don't tarnish my memories of my era. That was late 40's early 50's. These so called big -shots really don't care about the saving of anything but their loose change.I was one of the few that didn't want a new Cass. It ( the old Cass ) could of been updated.....

It's too bad they couldn't refurbish this beautiful building into Condos or apartments. It looks like a solid, sound proof building----perfect for Condos.

It should be noted that there is a new Cass Tech right across the street from this building. So while the physical building that we attended will be demolished, the legacy of the school continues through new students in a more modern and technologically advanced facility.

Detroit is an awesome example of what 70 years of what government corruption and liberal agenda will do to any entity.
Pray for Dave Bing. He is the best thing to happen to Detroit since the 1600's

Rob I like what you said about Cass Tech. It isn't the school thats the problem it is the area around it. If they would just start reaching out to other large companies such as retailers they could get rid of a lot of those empty parking lots and rough areas. I would love to see more places to shop and eat in that area personally. They have a lot of work to do, but they first have to stop fighting and start thinking outside of the box for means to fixing the problem. It's not going to fix itself.

Cass Tech a prestigeous school? Puleeze. I remember being spit at by Cass Tech students just because I didn't attend there. With that behavior coming from that malignant gtrowth on the I-75, it should have been torn down decades ago! Better idea, put Kwami in there and THEN tear it down.