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Politics & Government

Poll: Should the City and Schools Consolidate Offices?

The city is looking at purchasing new space that would be shared with Dearborn Public Schools administrative offices.

Dearborn's statuesque may no longer be the site of municipal offices, Mayor Jack O'Reilly said last week.

According to the Dearborn Press and Guide, O'Reilly joined Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston on Jan. 17 for a tour of the old ADP headquarters on Michigan Avenue. And with the property set to go into bank ownership, a deal could be reached soon to make the building–which sits just west of the –the new home of both city and school administrative offices.

With continued consolidation of city departments, plus expansive foyers and hallways, a significant amount of square footage of the current City Hall–while structurally beautiful and carrying historic quality–is vacant space.

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And, along with bringing city offices in line with the , and , the move could help the city avoid costly repairs to the current City Hall. DPS, likewise, faces mounting repair costs in coming years.

School offices are currently located in the old Ten Eyck school building on Audette Street.

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Some, however, disagree with the plan.

Blogger and City Plan Commissioner Deep Said raised the question "Does Dearborn Really Need a New City Hall?" on his blog, DeepsaidWhat.com.

"Call us nostalgic, but Dearborn’s City Hall building needs to remain the hub of Dearborn," Deep wrote. "The building may need repair but it is simply too important of a symbol to this city to simply leave it to others (like an art community) or, worse yet, raze."

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