Title
Resolution to Support Installation of the "Murals That Bridge" Project on the North Main Street Railroad Overpass and Approve an MDOT Permit and Maintenance Agreement
Memorandum
Murals That Bridge is a two-fold public art initiative aimed at creating landmark attractions for all who live in and visit Ann Arbor. Two prominent railroad overpass locations owned by WATCO were identified as "Gateways" to the Ann Arbor community - the first location on West Huron Street near First Street, and the second location on North Main Street near the entrance to M-14. Both locations were identified as blighted and generally unsightly fixtures located over major transportation arteries in Ann Arbor. The West Huron Street location was completed in 2024. The North Main Street location will be the second installation.
The North Main Street Murals That Bridge project, which was endorsed by the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC) during their June 4, 2025 meeting, will physically restore the North Main structure in a way that furthers the AAPAC's mission to improve the quality of public spaces and structures in the Ann Arbor community.
The Murals That Bridge team, spearheaded by Lucie & Larry Nisson, TreeTown Murals, Constellations Consulting, and NorthStar Painting, plans to hire several Michigan based artists, including youth artists, to assist with painting the North Main Street mural, thereby creating local jobs and contributing to the vibrancy of Ann Arbor's creative economy. The estimated budget for the North Main Street project is $150,000.00, which includes five years of maintenance and upkeep. The Murals That Bridge team has raised a portion of the capital and plans to begin the mural in summer/fall of 2025. Murals That Bridge is fiscally sponsored by Artrain, Inc. a 501c3 organization.
Because the Murals That Bridge project involves North Main Street, a state trunkline highway, it requires an Alternative Use of Highway Right-of-Way permit from the Michigan De...
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