Petition to: The Community House Association Board of Directors, Birmingham City Commission, and Oakland County Circuit Court

What’s Happening

The Community House—Birmingham’s 101-year-old nonprofit gathering place—is at risk. Its board has announced plans to sell the building and shut down all operations by July 1, 2026, including closing the Early Childhood Center (ECC) in May 2026.

For generations, The Community House has served as a hub for children, families, seniors, and local organizations. Closing it, and especially the ECC, would displace families, disrupt trusted relationships with educators, and fundamentally change the character of downtown Birmingham.

The Legal Foundation: This Is a Protected Community Asset

Built in 1930 with donations from Birmingham residents and civic groups, The Community House is subject to deed restrictions and a 1989 Oakland County court order that define it as a nonprofit community center for Birmingham residents.

The City of Birmingham has filed a lawsuit asking the court to interpret and enforce these longstanding restrictions in light of the proposed sale. Whatever the legal outcome, our position as parents, residents, and community members is clear:

We want The Community House and ECC to remain a community-serving institution, and we want all parties to prioritize solutions that keep programs operating.

What’s at Stake

• The Early Childhood Center (ECC): A Five-Star Great Start program serving 58 children, offering a nationally recognized curriculum and a deeply trusted team of long-term educators. Many families waited 5+ months for enrollment—and there are few comparable options in the area.
• 800+ community programs annually in the arts, wellness, language, youth development, and more.
• Critical civic space for nonprofits, clubs, performances, and public events.
• 49 staff members, including 17 ECC teachers, at risk of job loss.

This is not just about a building. It’s about protecting a vital support system for children, working families, seniors, and nonprofits—and preserving a core part of Birmingham’s identity.

Alternatives Exist

ECC families have submitted offers to purchase or lease part of the building to keep the program running. Other potential paths include partnerships with local nonprofits, city involvement, and hybrid models that maintain community-serving uses while addressing financial realities.

Whatever ownership or structure is ultimately chosen, we believe preserving ECC and community programs must be a central requirement, not an afterthought.

What We’re Asking For

We, the undersigned members of the Birmingham community, respectfully ask that children, families, and community programs remain a top priority in every decision and every potential solution, specifically:

• PRIORITIZE PRESERVING ECC in any future plan, sale, or transition—whether that means staying in the current building, leasing space, or moving to a nearby location with the program and staff intact.
• KEEP THE COMMUNITY HOUSE OPERATING AS A COMMUNITY-SERVING INSTITUTION for as long as feasible during any transition, with programs and staff maintained where possible.
• ENGAGE IN GOOD-FAITH COLLABORATION among The Community House Association, the City of Birmingham, ECC families, and community stakeholders to identify sustainable models that preserve core community uses.
• RESPECT THE HISTORIC PURPOSE AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK that have guided The Community House for nearly a century, ensuring that any path forward keeps community service at the center

TAKE ACTION:

✅ SIGN this petition by December 23, 2025 to show all decision-makers that Birmingham wants to preserve ECC and The Community House as community-serving institutions.

📣 SHARE this widely with Birmingham residents, ECC families, and anyone connected to The Community House. 

✉️ CONTACT local officials, including Mayor Clinton Baller at cballer@bhamgov.org, to share your perspective and urge that ECC and community programs be a priority in any path forward.

🏛️ ATTEND one of the upcoming Birmingham Area Community Foundation meetings and Birmingham City Commission meetings to make your voices heard.

Questions or media inquiries? Email: eccparentscoalition@gmail.com