Clawson, Royal Oak

Alderbrook expects to open at new location this fall

By Chris Jackett
C & G Staff Writer

CLAWSON — Plans for Alderbrook School’s Sterling South – Oakland Campus are progressing.

The charter school for kindergarten through 12th-graders is relocating from 1025 N. Sherman Drive in Royal Oak to 839 S. Crooks in Clawson. The new site, inside a former YWCA building at Normandy Road, is located across the street from Royal Oak High School.

“The YWCA sold the facility to Alderbrook for a charter school to go in at this K-12 school,” City Attorney Jon Kingsepp said at the July 3 City Council meeting.

An Alderbrook representative approached the board to tweak the site plan in accordance with a neighboring condo association. The change, which was unanimously approved with Councilman Tom Palmer absent, removes a portion of fencing that would have forced trees to be removed between the two properties.

“It was their idea. Attached to our request was a written request from the president of the condo association,” said Alderbrook Attorney Neil Strefling at the meeting. “That C-shaped portion is no longer going to be built. We were approached by the condo association. We were doing all the construction that was required from the original agreement, and they didn’t want the trees taken down.”

Plans to remove a dead tree near Massoit Road are still intact.

Strefling, who didn’t identify himself, said everything is moving smoothly and the school expects to open its doors for classes this fall.

The school was originally opened in Royal Oak in 2004 and serves nearly 40 students.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Chris Jackett at cjackett@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1110.