Title
Resolution calling for the Creation of an Innovative Process of Community Collaboration to Explore a Greenway Park and Arts Center at 415 W. Washington
Body
Whereas, There was a Request for Proposals process for the city owned site at 415 W. Washington that did not result in a proposal moving forward;
Whereas, In Alternative B of their report, the Greenway Task Force recommended that 415 W. Washington become a combined Greenway Park and Arts Center;
Whereas, This site is just a short walk from the Main St. area of Downtown Ann Arbor and is just across the street from the YMCA that is enjoyed by thousands of residents including seniors and children;
Whereas, There is great potential for this site to be the anchor park of a new Greenway that will someday join the existing Huron River Greenway;
Whereas, The lack of affordable space for studios, art display, and performance space in Ann Arbor is known to have forced some artists and musicians in the community to take their craft away from the city;
Whereas, Ann Arbor has long been considered a haven for the arts and hosts the largest art fair in the nation and recent studies have confirmed that the arts annually contribute millions of dollars to the local economy and provide thousands of jobs in the greater Ann Arbor area;
Whereas, 415 W. Washington provides a wonderful opportunity for the display of public art for all to enjoy;
Whereas, a large portion of the site lies within the floodway;
Whereas, the site lies within the boundaries of the Downtown Development Authority;
Whereas, if it is determined that the brick building that fronts on Washington and is part of the Old West Side Historic District can be restored in a cost effective manner there is great potential in redeveloping this site as a model of energy efficiency supported by renewable energy;
Whereas, The building could be made available to artists and others in the community as a place for studios, gatherings, meetings, and performances;
Whereas, Even in this time of reduced resources for all local governments in Michigan it may be possible to maintain momentum on long term community goals using an innovative approach that conserves and stretches resources;
Whereas, A collaboration between the City and other organizations in the community affords the best opportunity to make progress on building a new park and arts center that will benefit the City for many years to come;
Whereas, The Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy was established to work for the creation of a new greenway and to generate funds to facilitate creation of the Greenway;
Whereas, The Arts Alliance was formed to promote and facilitate the arts in the Ann Arbor area and many other potential partners exist in the community who would be interested in assisting in moving this project forward;
Whereas, Individuals in the community have recently expressed a willingness to contribute to the development of new parks; and
Whereas, Funds for a combined Community Arts Center and Greenway Park may be available through grants related to art centers, parks, historic renovation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, brownfield reclamation, floodway restoration, etc.;
Resolved, That City Council invites the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy and the Arts Alliance to join with them in exploring the creation of a Greenway Park and Arts Center at 415 W. Washington; to collaborate in assessing the site and with other efforts to accomplish this community goal;
Resolved, That City Council invites the Allen Creek Greenway and the Arts Alliance to work with them in raising funds for a comprehensive grant search and application process;
Resolved, That City Council asks the Downtown Development Authority, the Parks Advisory Commission, the Art in Public Places Commission, The Energy Commission, the Main St. Area Association, the Office of the County Water Resources Director and other City and community entities and individuals willing to contribute resources and expertise to this effort to be open to collaboration with the City, the Greenway Conservancy and the Arts Alliance;
Resolved, That the Mayor's Office and Council Members Teall and Hohnke will work with government and community partners in exploring the creation of a Greenway Park and Arts Center at 415 W. Washington;
RESOLVED, That the eventual proposal will have the goal that the renovation, installation, conversion and future operations are revenue neutral for the city's general fund; and
Resolved, That a progress report be delivered to City Council at the first meeting in February, 2011.
Sponsored by: Mayor Hieftje, Council Members Hohnke and Teall
As amended by Ann Arbor City Council on February 1, 2010