DEARBORN – Approval has been given for the city to purchase the current ADP building on Michigan Avenue, which is expected to be converted into a new Dearborn City Hall. 

The ADP building (pictured above) is 12 years old and has a much higher concentration of usable square footage according to the city, allowing for better interaction between departments.

The Dearborn City Council voted in favor of the proposal to buy the building, located at 16901 Michigan Avenue, for $3.2 million. The purchase price will be added as an amendment to the 2012 budget according to a report from Dearborn Patch. 

In addition to the move to the new building, Dearborn is expected to transform the current historic City Hall into the cornerstone of its Artspace concept, which has been explored by the city and the East Downtown Development Authority for about two years. 

The Artspace in the Dearborn location is expected to preserve the architecture of city hall while promoting artists and the arts. The city says that Artspace projects have reinvigorated various downtowns across the country, and they expect that the Dearborn project will anchor the East Downtown District. 

While the approval had just two dissenters in the Dearborn City Council, several residents have begun wondering aloud through Internet discussions how the city can afford such a purpose considering recent plans to close libraries and pools as well as a major budget deficit that required the passing of a millage this past election season in 2011. 

Thomas Tafelski, the council president, was among the dissenters and told the council that the city needs to balance its budget before making such purchases. 

But others feel that the move could be a shrewd one because it will save annual costs and lead to a better long-term future, including Mayor Jack O’Reilly and Councilman David W. Bazzy. 

“If the city is able to get Artspace to move into the city hall it is a tremendous opportunity to continue to revitalize and support east Dearborn,” Bazzy said, noting the high value of the new building in terms of price per usable square footage, calling it a “steal.” 

“The purchasing of this facility has zero impact on pools and libraries, these issues in themselves have to be sorted out in how we determine to bring the best value to all residents and taxpayers in the community…Once you get past the emotional component it appears to be a tremendous opportunity to reign in costs and create a vibrant rebirth in east Dearborn.” 

The current city hall reportedly needs repairs that would add up to approximately $5.7 million according to a press release from the city. The city also said that every mayor since 1967 has pursued the idea of consolidating the city hall into a newer, centralized location in a more modern building. 

The Artspace area that is expected to be created within the City Hall structures will be home to 40 new residential units for artists, who will receive preference for the units.

The concourse area and council chambers, which are much newer (30 years old), will be converted into studio, performance coffee shop, gallery space other attractions and commercial space as well, with the hope being that the project will attract new jobs and creative residents to the east downtown area. The official groundbreaking for Artspace is expected to take place in 2014. 

The ADP building by contrast is 12 years old and has a much higher concentration of usable square footage according to the city, allowing for better interaction between departments. 

It is still yet to be determined whether the City Hall War Memorial and Veterans Plaza and also the Orville Hubbard statue near city hall will be moved or kept and maintained in their current locations.