A view of the building’s gymnasium
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — Demolition of the former Scottville High School has begun, marking the end of a long-standing structure and the start of a potential new chapter for the site.
The project is being overseen by the Mason County Land Bank Authority, which acquired the property after plans to rehabilitate the historic building proved financially unfeasible. The land bank had identified the structure as a candidate for demolition as early as 2025 as part of its broader mission to address blight and return underutilized properties to productive use.
Crews have started initial work on the property, with asbestos abatement expected to take approximately two weeks. Full demolition of the building is anticipated to begin in mid-May and continue for four to six weeks, according to Mason County Treasurer Andrew Kmetz, who also serves as chair of the land bank.
“We originally applied for a rehabilitation grant for this building,” Kmetz said. “Unfortunately, all the work that we looked at doing, the cost would have been substantially more in the tens of millions of dollars. We have now finally worked out an agreement to purchase it and rehab.”
County officials ultimately determined rehabilitation was not viable, leading the land bank to move forward with demolition in order to prepare the property for redevelopment.
The 1.4-acre parcel is viewed as a key opportunity to address local housing needs, a priority the land bank has emphasized in recent years as it evaluates properties for reuse.
“The site that this is on is a 1.4 acre lot that would be substantial to have a density housing development come in,” Kmetz said. “And we currently have a housing crisis in the county, this would be a great start to fight that.”
The land bank has increasingly focused on projects that support housing development, and officials say the centrally located Scottville site could play a role in those efforts once it is cleared and made build-ready.
Kmetz acknowledged the emotional impact of the demolition on the community, noting the building’s long history and significance to former students and residents.
“We understand this building means a lot to a lot of people, and we are sad to see it go,” he said. “But we do want to breathe new life here, and we feel that providing these opportunities for a new development would help honor that.”
Following demolition, the site will undergo environmental cleanup and grading before being prepared for redevelopment, consistent with the land bank’s process of stabilizing and marketing properties for future use.
“Once that’s complete, the ground will be filled in, the contamination will be cleaned up in the ground, and it will be a build-ready site that we’re excited to see what possibilities can happen,” Kmetz said.
While no specific development plans have been finalized, land bank officials have indicated the goal is to position the property for future housing or mixed-use development that aligns with community needs.
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