Plan for Artist Space in East Dearborn Inches Forward
A plan to create affordable space for artists, arts organizations and nonprofits in East Dearborn inched another step forward on Wednesday.
The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA), in partnership with the City of Dearborn, tells us that an artist market survey will go out to artists in a 50 mile radius of Dearborn. This survey will be conducted by Artspace, the nation’s leading nonprofit real estate developer for the arts. The EDDDA is working with Artspace to explore a new and creative way to a potential economic development project in East Dearborn.
“The reason they (Artspace) are contacting artists outside of Dearborn is to more fully understand how many artists are interested in space and if they would move to Dearborn if affordable space were accessible here,” said Melissa Kania of the EDDDA. “The survey will provide Artspace with statistical information including such things as: artist housing needs, affordability ranges, rental vs. ownership preferences, artist studio-only needs, location preferences, design requirements based on household sizes and arts disciplines, and arts organization space needs.”
This is where many of us can help this project. Dearborn and Artspace need our help in collecting the names and email addresses of as many artists as possible in and outside of Dearborn (50 mile radius) to actually take the survey. Artspace will be kicking off this survey phase of the study with a public meeting Nov. 9 in the Council Chambers at Dearborn City Hall. The short survey launches Nov. 9 and runs through January 14, 2011.
Some of you may recall that Artspace was in Dearborn June 22 and 23, 2010 to begin the process of building community support for the creation of affordable space for artists, entrepreneurs and arts organizations.
They explored five areas of consideration: project concept, artist market need, site suitability, potential to fund and sustain a project and local leadership. A public meeting was held to determine community support and inform the public of Artspace’s work. The Prefeasibility Visit is the first step in the process that can lead to an Artspace project.
Interested artists can visit: www.artspacedearborn.org to register for the survey.
September 30th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Sounds like someone is looking for a plan “b” for the 5050 building when Oakwood opens. BRING BACK PEACHE’S!
September 30th, 2010 at 11:40 am
It would be wonderful to see a project like this completed in Dearborn. I had always hoped the the old Montgomery Wards could have become the same type of project as Kerry Town in Ann Arbor.
I will try to do everything that I can to help this project succeed.
Dearborn has a lot of unused space that this would be ideal for. You can never have enough diversity and culture in a city.
September 30th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
I live 100 ft. from the empty Kroger store at Michigan and Schaefer in East Dearborn ad I would like nothing more than to have a colony of artists use this large, up-to-date building and also live in my neighborhood. With sufficient support from the city and Artspace, this project to revitalize a moribund part of town that’s been struggling for decades. Just see what happened to Royal Oak, Ferndale and the Cass Corridore when artists were welcomed and supported by city administrations and the communities.I say, don’t waste a minute.
October 1st, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Anything that will fill some of the vacancies on Schaefer Rd. big fella.
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:51 pm
For some fun art, check out Oxford Street just east of Telegraph. Pumpkins painted with funny or scary faces for Halloween. Not expensive, either. I have had at least one of each every year. Because they aren’t carved, they last forever, or at least until the squirrels eat them.
October 4th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Pleased Customer
You would do better to support the fire fighter pumpkin patch at least your money goes to a charity. The Oxford street resident gets no permit, has no license and put an unlawful sign at telegraph. Who know where to money goes? When is the city going to start enforcing its ordinances? Or does this guy know somebody at city hall?
October 5th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
We were talking about art, not pumpkins. The pumpkins cost the buyer 5 or ten dollars. The art is already applied. Nobody gettin’ rich there. This guy isn’t causing any trouble. What the heck are you so ticked about?
October 6th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Pleased Customer,
Your right we were talking about art, but you promoted someone who defies city ordinaces for several years, $30 vender license $25 dollar sandwich board sign, yet if your grass is over six inch its a $50 fine (by the way what trouble is that causing.) He can have at it,good for him,they are nice pumpkins just have the citizenry to follow the law like the rest of us. and I don’t believe for a minute he is not making money!
October 6th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
PC, the problem is other businesses have to get licenses. Milwood is correct: almost every year for the past 8 or 9 years this person has been doing this; he or she or they know that they won’t get a ticket on the weekend, so they are actively evading the law. What if any person came in from another City–let’s say Lincoln Park, Detroit, or Allen Park–and decided to sell their wares on the weekend. No permit or permission from the City. Do you want to tell the other businesses in Dearborn or itinerate merchants (part-time vendors) that they need licenses but these new folks don’t? What’s next: selling flowers and trinkets at every corner on the weekends–or maybe some flocked Elvis art. Hope this is right in front of your house–then maybe you will get it.
It’s hardly art, PC, it’s a business. Oh, and you put it out there about this place, like you were doing a commercial, so I guess folks are entitled to comment.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:32 am
I have neighbors who violate city ordinances every day and also see the inspector drive by and see the same violations that I do – nothing new here at all.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Dearbornette, I didn’t say you couldn’t comment. All I was trying to do is talk about fun art, and yes, spread the word about the pumpkins. Millwood Fordson seems to think the guy makes a fortune, but I thought just noting the price levels shows this enterprise is not supporting anyone or produces enough revenue to pay bribes, as someone suggested. I still don’t get the apparent anger.
You said you hoped vendors would sell flocked Elvis art in front of my house…is that your problem with this pumpkin artist? Do you live across the street from him, and you’re allergic to pumpkins or something? I remember that there have been stories about his painted pumpkins in the newspapers in the past years, so he hasn’t been hiding what he is doing. And you say he has been doing this for 8 or 9 years?
October 8th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Why don’t we go after the little kids that sell lemonade???
October 8th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I live several blocks away, not next door. It gets me angry that many businesses are struggling and have to pay their fair share, yet this person year after year refuses to comply. My point was this started long before the economic downtown, PC. Again, why should this person do this every Halloween and not have to pay, yet everyone else maintaining a business has to. Apparently you thihk that is fair. My point to you is that the city charges fees especially for things like this because they want to keep their signs around, etc. They can block sight access for neighbors, people parked on the street, and people trying to turn on Telegraph where I have seen the sign. Hence the need for regulation.
I for one don’t want a bunch of non-licensed vendors around. If this person doesn’t get a license, then others have an argument that they don’t need them, either. Zoning regulations as well as license requirements benefit everyone.
Oh, no, I happen to like pumpkins, make sure I buy a couple every year. What I don’t like is people who think the rules and law don’t apply to them and people who support them.
October 8th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Dearbornette, and Millwood, please be assured that the pumpkin-painter does indeed have his permit(s) with the City of Dearborn. I stopped and asked him today.
Please feel free to ask him yourself. He seems like a nice guy and perfectly believable. Also, you want to check out those painted pumpkins…some are hilarious, others very scary.
I figure you won’t believe what I write here, but it sure appears that your anger towards this vendor is misplaced and unnecessary.
October 9th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
I will call the City and check on Monday, PC. Can I tell you that this would be the first year he or she complied, as I have checked in previous years and no license had been obtained? I am glad someone got “religion.”
I don’t begrudge anyone the ability to do something like this; I thought the pumpkins were cute and clever. However, I do expect people to comply with local ordinances and not to flaunt them by operating when they can’t get caught–I don’t care what they are selling.
Obviously some people don’t believe it’s necessary to comply with the law, except when they feel like it. That was my point all along.
October 10th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Dearbornette, according to the artist, he has obtained licenses for years and years. The permits are like those for garage sales – intended to cover the weekends. So, operating on weekends is not evidence there is no permit.
And, since this discussion of one artist/vendor is quite a departure from the original intent of the post, let me return to that premise – there is an effort to promote art in Dearborn with the intention of providing affording space for creating and yes, selling art. That is a noble endeavor and I hope it succeeds.
October 12th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Sorry PC, according to the clerk’s office your friend (or I suspect you) applied for garage sale licenses only. They not the same as the merchant license and have different purposes. Also, unless you petition the counsel and pay a fee, you are not allowed to have sandwich board signs on City property, i.e. the sidewalk. Anyone ever watch the council meetings where businesses get permission to have their sandwich boards out on the sidewalks? Look, tell your friend to comply and post their license when they are vending and then no one will care. Good Luck!