Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Powers Deal Off?

UPDATE: It's official. Deal off. Ron Fonger of The Flint Journal reports:

General Motors' Service and Parts Operations World Headquarters is staying put in the township, a decision that will cost Powers Catholic High School a potential new home but save hundreds of white collar jobs here.

A GM spokesman told The Flint Journal today that the company has made a final decision to remain in the 345,000-square-foot complex, and Powers said in a news release that officials there will continue to work toward finding a new home.

"This has been a very difficult six months. We believed we were going to be moving," said John McDonald, a GM spokesman. "Everybody had been working toward that goal."

An anonymous reader just posted this info on the plans for Powers High School to relocate to the General Motors SPO World Headquarters in Grand Blanc. Please note that this is unconfirmed:
It was just announced at Power's and at SPO that SPO will not be relocating so the deal is off. Sad day for Powers. When [Principal] Tom [Furnas] made the announcement at school today, I was told he sounded very sad. GM is committing to work with Powers on a solution.


12 comments:

  1. I go to powers and am upset at GM desion this was a perfect way to get SPO of their hand and they blew it.

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  2. The Flint Journal just confirmed it and so did my husband who works at SPO

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  3. It's already on MLive Gordie.

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  4. Hmmm. If true...back to the Flint Central plan?

    I wonder if all the available, ummm, influence was applied on that one. It didn't appear so from the outside.

    Too bad the Tech Center deals are already done.

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  5. On MLive: http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2010/02/general_motors_official_spo_wo.html

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  6. I say good. The scared rich kids can stay on the north end.

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  7. As a Power's parent and SPO employee, I have been living on a rollercoaster over the last several months. First we are moving to Warren, then better yet going to Pontiac only an additional 20 some minutes a day to work)then maybe the Ren Cen. But today was the biggest rollercoaster ever. Although I am glad I do not have to commute some 40-60 miles a day, I am far more sad for Powers. The location was right on, the building would have made an awesome school, and the great Power's traditions might have encouraged others to share in their values. It did save several jobs that I have had the opportunity over the years to become friends with, from cafeteria workers, housekeeping, security and maintenance who knew they would no longer have a job once we moved. I am sure most people at SPO thinks this is a win, but they are not tied to the Power's community and what that means as I have been lucky to be part of. I hope my employer works with them to find an alternate location. God Bless Tom Furnas for graciously holding his head high and excepting this devistating news for our school. His character is amazing. And not all of these kids come from rich families. I for one struggle to send my kids there but in the long run, I have seen the benefits in my kids and the one that now is in college makes studying to get excellent grades his number one priority and understands what paying tuition is all about. Powers has very successful stories behind their grads, being rich or just a middle income family who choose values as their number one priority.

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  8. Oh I forgot to end with "Amen" :)

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  9. Is Holy Redeemer in such disrepair that it could not be renovated?

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  10. At some point during this story, someone...my recollection is, someone authoritative...said that the architects had determined that both the primary building and the amount of available land at Holy Redeemer were significantly too small for the project.

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  11. IMHO Grand Blanc Township can use the tax dollars from GM. Would Powers have paid any property taxes?

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  12. With all of the vacant building's scattered all over Flint and Genesee County. I am more than confident that Powers will find a home. I just hope they will decide to locate in South Flint or maybe Burton. How about the Great Lakes Tech Center? I know it was just auctioned off. Although i am sure one of the parties that made a purchase of the four properties would consider an offer to Powers.

    It has also came to my attention that Flint schools saw a 1,500 student drop this year. I think that will spell more school closings FOR SURE... Maybe some of the schools slated for closing last year, that were not, may get the axe this time. Freeman Elementary school could be converted and expanded. Although it is small, it does have a large gym and theater hall. As, well as LOTS of land for top notch football, baseball and soccer fields to be born.

    Just some idea's.

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Thanks for commenting. I moderate comments, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You might enjoy my book about Flint called "Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City," a Michigan Notable Book for 2014 and a finalist for the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Award for Creative NonFiction. Filmmaker Michael Moore described Teardown as "a brilliant chronicle of the Mad Maxization of a once-great American city." More information about Teardown is available at www.teardownbook.com.