Legislature clears way for sale of Michigan School for the Deaf

The Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint may soon be sold.

In the wee hours of Friday morning, as the legislature prepared to adjourn its 2010 session, state lawmakers approved the sale of the 153 year old school to a private developer for $1.3 million.

The developer plans to renovate some buildings on the 85 acre site and build a new $15 million complex for the school for the deaf.  The state will pay $2 million a year to lease the site.  

Ridgway White is the developer.  He says the current facility needs to be replaced. 

“Because of the state’s fiscal crisis, they don’t have the money to spend on capital outlay.  They can’t build the new school.  They don’t have the money to do that.” 

Construction of the new school will begin next summer.   White says the new school for the deaf should be ready to open in fall of 2012.