Calling all artists: The site to learn about Dearborn's upcoming Artspace project at the current Dearborn City Hall is now live.
The webpage detailing the upcoming Artspace project—set to become live-work space and performance space for local artists in the Dearborn area—details the building and neighborhood the arts nonprofit is looking to move into.
More: Appraiser sets sale price of City Hall to Artspace at $1.65M
The four-story, 1920s-built city hall, set in the heart of east downtown Dearborn, is expected to become Artspace lofts by 2015. Leasing applications are not yet available.
According to Artspace's description, the project was an effort of the city to help revive the district's economy:
Looking to use the power of the arts to improve East Dearborn’s economic base, the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority invited Artspace into the community. Of the 20 potential sites Artspace considered, the most promising proved to be Dearborn City Hall, a two-building campus that occupies an entire block and is available because the city is moving its government offices to a more central location.
Mayor Jack O'Reilly expressed his excitement on the project in his State of the City speech on Feb. 27.
"In major cities across the country, Artspace has built and managed 30 similar projects, converting buildings with historic value into cultural destinations," O'Reilly said. "We look forward to achieving the same powerful effects in our city because of Artspace's track record of drawing new residents, new customers and new visitors to its exciting arts-themed complexes."
Download the full project overview, plus see the CDTV video on Artspace, on the Artspace City Hall Artist Lofts webpage.
