Deluxe Inn Fire Training
Friday, September 17, 2010
Christine Rook
Lansing State Journal
September 7, 2001
LANSING, MI -- Recently, the dilapidated Deluxe Inn on Main Street saw a major renovation by over 50 artists who freely decorated its exterior walls with graffiti. The event of such “creative restoration,” as Ingham County Treasurer Eric Schertzing likes to phrase it, was such a phenomenal success amongst the community. The building received more attention than it has in months, possibly even years. “Locals have been coming everyday since the event to continue their artwork. It’s been really inspiring” Schertzing commented.
The Deluxe Inn Graffiti Project isn’t the end of the road for the old hotel, just merely the beginning. After years of abuse and bad reputations, the property was abandoned only to be purchased by the Ingham County Land Bank in 2009. Eric Schertzing, has set out for one final use of this building before it is to torn down at the end of August. The facility has been donated to Lansing area fire chiefs and their departments for training.
The training which will include the Metro team consisting of the Lansing, Delta, East Lansing and Meridian Fire Departments will take place this Thursday through Sunday, September 9-12. Officer Steve Mazurek states that “all of the departments train together every month but not as often as they may like to. It’s a great way for them to build relationships with other departments.” Through this training, firefighters will be able to refresh their memory on tools, skills and equipment. The plan for doing exercises like this is to practice safe-entry into harmful situations, drilling thru the concrete and stabilizing the building. Officer Mazurek continues to state that “they hope to collapse a part of the Deluxe Inn and do exercises they have been trained to do.”
The transformation of the Deluxe Inn has been truly eye opening and a great resource for the Lansing area. A building and property with such a rough past could have easily been demolished and forgotten about but with the help of people like Eric Schertzing and companies such as the Ingham County Land Bank, the hotel has given back life and purpose to Lansing in its final days. Not only have artists from across the state been able to express themselves creatively and helped raise awareness as well as curiosity to the project, but now trained professionals will be given the opportunity to practice important life saving skills. These skills will help in saving the lives of area residents and an opportunity for practicing real life situations to better our community and its people.
As well as the training by local fire departments, other dates for training include the September 7 Asbestos Abatement Activities, the partial collapse of the building September 8 (in preparation of the fire training) and on Monday, September 13 training for local Police Departments will be held.
Already there has been an overwhelming and positive response to these projects. Schertzing states that he “is proud and genuinely thankful for the reactions of Lansing residents.” He continues, “Projects such as this are very rewarding and we are happy to see such amazing things happen with this property before it is torn down.” The memory of this building (The Deluxe Inn) will not be one of demise, but one of promise and what is to come for the city of Lansing.
Lansing State Journal
September 7, 2001
LANSING, MI -- Recently, the dilapidated Deluxe Inn on Main Street saw a major renovation by over 50 artists who freely decorated its exterior walls with graffiti. The event of such “creative restoration,” as Ingham County Treasurer Eric Schertzing likes to phrase it, was such a phenomenal success amongst the community. The building received more attention than it has in months, possibly even years. “Locals have been coming everyday since the event to continue their artwork. It’s been really inspiring” Schertzing commented.
The Deluxe Inn Graffiti Project isn’t the end of the road for the old hotel, just merely the beginning. After years of abuse and bad reputations, the property was abandoned only to be purchased by the Ingham County Land Bank in 2009. Eric Schertzing, has set out for one final use of this building before it is to torn down at the end of August. The facility has been donated to Lansing area fire chiefs and their departments for training.
The training which will include the Metro team consisting of the Lansing, Delta, East Lansing and Meridian Fire Departments will take place this Thursday through Sunday, September 9-12. Officer Steve Mazurek states that “all of the departments train together every month but not as often as they may like to. It’s a great way for them to build relationships with other departments.” Through this training, firefighters will be able to refresh their memory on tools, skills and equipment. The plan for doing exercises like this is to practice safe-entry into harmful situations, drilling thru the concrete and stabilizing the building. Officer Mazurek continues to state that “they hope to collapse a part of the Deluxe Inn and do exercises they have been trained to do.”
The transformation of the Deluxe Inn has been truly eye opening and a great resource for the Lansing area. A building and property with such a rough past could have easily been demolished and forgotten about but with the help of people like Eric Schertzing and companies such as the Ingham County Land Bank, the hotel has given back life and purpose to Lansing in its final days. Not only have artists from across the state been able to express themselves creatively and helped raise awareness as well as curiosity to the project, but now trained professionals will be given the opportunity to practice important life saving skills. These skills will help in saving the lives of area residents and an opportunity for practicing real life situations to better our community and its people.
As well as the training by local fire departments, other dates for training include the September 7 Asbestos Abatement Activities, the partial collapse of the building September 8 (in preparation of the fire training) and on Monday, September 13 training for local Police Departments will be held.
Already there has been an overwhelming and positive response to these projects. Schertzing states that he “is proud and genuinely thankful for the reactions of Lansing residents.” He continues, “Projects such as this are very rewarding and we are happy to see such amazing things happen with this property before it is torn down.” The memory of this building (The Deluxe Inn) will not be one of demise, but one of promise and what is to come for the city of Lansing.
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