The Metro: Detroit nonprofit renovating vacant school into east side community hub
The Metro, John Filbrandt, Lauren Myers, Trevor McConico February 11, 2025WDET’s Jack Filbrandt dodged construction and toured the building with Vice President of Opportunity Hubs Brandi Haggins.

The nonprofit Life Remodeled is working to develop a new opportunity hub on the east side called Anchor Detroit.
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Roughly 200 public schools have closed in Detroit between 2000-2015. These integral neighborhood hubs left many holes in communities when they closed.
The organization Life Remodeled turned the former Durfee Elementary Middle School building on the west side into the Durfee Innovation Society, providing youth programs, workforce development opportunities and more to people in the Durfee neighborhood.
The nonprofit is now working on a new opportunity hub on the east side, Anchor Detroit, that will open up in the Denby neighborhood December 2025. WDET’s Jack Filbrandt dodged construction and toured the building with Vice President of Opportunity Hubs Brandi Haggins.
Use the media player above to listen to the conversation.
Hear more stories from The Metro on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
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Jack Filbrandt is an assistant producer on WDET's daily news, arts and culture program, The Metro. He grew up on Lake Michigan and has called Detroit home for seven years. He's also a Detroit Documenter, covering local government meetings in the city. He previously worked for Wayne State's student newspaper, The South End, and The Battering Ram.
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