So, what’s the next step in saving the historic Arnold Auditorium on Lakeville Rd. from being demolished?
The ball’s in the county’s court.
Ron Campbell, a principal planner and historical architect for Oakland County, said he met with elders at the Addison Community Church, who own the building, Addison Twp. Trustee Ed Brakefield and Supervisor Bob Koski last week to discuss ways of saving the 151-year-old schoolhouse.
Last month, there was discussion of letting the fire department burn the building down as a training tool because of its poor stability.
‘All of them are very much in favor of keeping it, trying to find a way to save it,? Campbell said.
‘It’s a grand little structure. It looks pretty stable to me, and certainly, we’ve rehabilitated much worse.?
Campbell will be writing a report on the options the township, or the church, will have when trying to preserve and rehabilitate the structure.
The first thing that will have to be decided is who will foot the bill for the restoration. Will it be the church who owns the building? Will the township take it off their hands? Or will private funds foot the bill?
‘It’s gonna be about what’s best for the community and the building,? Campbell said. ‘It’s all in a very preliminary stage right now.?