East Dearborn downtown makes plans for arts district

The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority is taking steps to set up an arts district in the city's eastern center.

Downtown leaders see the creation of an arts district as an important tool to both help encourage economic development and to raise the quality of life in the city's eastern downtown, which centers around the Michigan Avenue and Schaeffer Road intersection.

"We have so many vacancies downtown," says Melissa Kania, who is spear heading the project for the East Dearborn DDA. "Why not create pop-up galleries? If this building is empty, why not lease it to this artist for a short time and create a gallery?"

That could create more foot traffic for local retail businesses. Local leaders also think it will attract new economy-based entrepreneurs and businesses because the young people behind them often run in the same circles with artists.

The DDA is currently working with Artspace to see if it can create some inexpensive space for artists and other creatively inclined people. One possibility is the former Kroger building, which could serve as a central location for local creatives.

"This is all very conceptual right now," Kania says.

That doesn't mean a good bit of work hasn't gone into it. The DDA recently revealed three sculptures in its downtown to help kick off the effort. The sculptures come from a recent offering of eight pieces from the Midwest Sculpture Initiative. The other five are in Dearborn's western downtown.

Source: Melissa Kania, administrative assistant with the East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke

East Dearborn downtown makes plans for arts district

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