DEARBORN — On Tuesday, July 23, the Dearborn City Council approved the sale of City Hall to ArtSpace, a national non-profit organization, for $1.6 million. In a 5-1 vote, the council voted in favor of the sale, despite strong opposition that was voiced earlier in the meeting, from both residents and candidates of the upcoming municipality election. Council President Tom Tafelski was the only member who voted against the sale. 

ArtSpace, a company that utilizes building space for artists, studios, art organizations and creative business, has been in negotiations with Dearborn city officials to take over City Hall for the past year. They plan to build 45 to 49 live-work spaces in the building’s two wings, as well as a performance center in the council chambers, where the city council currently holds its meetings. Although the council approval is a major step towards the sale, the purchase is not expected to be finalized before June 2014.

However, despite the plan that is currently in place, concerned residents have emerged at city council meetings over the last several weeks to oppose the project.

Leading the opposition has been city council candidate Kristyn Taylor, who has voiced concerns over the sale, as well the $8.5 million donation made by Severstal, a steel-mill located in Dearborn. The City is still sitting on that donation and would like to use the majority of the money to facilitate a move into the new Dearborn Administrative Center, located next to Henry Ford Centennial Library. 

Taylor shared with the council an online survey that she compiled, in which residents were asked if they were in favor of the ArtSpace sale. In three days, she received 170 participants and three pages worth of comments. 68% of those who took the survey indicated that they were against the move.

Taylor’s poll was dismissed by the council and Mayor Jack O’Reilly as well, who seemed to agree that it wasn’t a scientific survey.  Councilman David Bazzy said that he himself took the poll, but was concerned that residents don’t know the full details of the sale, in order to be making such decisions. 

Lack of information about the sale appeared to be the common argument with the council as they discussed this particular agenda item.  The discussion stalled the meeting for over an hour. In numerous instances, the council pointed out that, while they understand the concerns made by some residents, thousands of other residents have decided not to get involved and would prefer “a nicer city hall.” The council and the mayor have held information sessions in the past and were quick to point out that little, to none, of Dearborn’s residents have turned out to participate.  

City council candidate Steve Dobkowski warned the council and the mayor that approving this sale would be “political career suicide.” He told the council that he has spoken to every city council candidate and all of them oppose the sale as well. Dobkowski suggested to both the council and the mayor that perhaps the best approach would be for residents to vote on the sale during the November ballot. However, those suggestions were dismissed as well.

Several factors were raised by residents during the meeting, who expressed concern over the sale of City Hall. Most residents in attendance felt that the building is a historic site and, despite the poor condition of the building, repairs and renovations could still save it. Others felt that the city administration is trying to detach completely from east Dearborn, as City Hall is one of the few City operated buildings left on that end of the City.

The City Hall building itself has faced a few setbacks recently. In the last month, heavy rain has flooded the 91-year-old building’s west wing on two separate occasions. ArtSpace plans to spend nearly $17.4 million in renovations.  However, a bulk of it is leaning on a $6.9 million tax credit from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which they may not receive. According to Mayor O’Reilly, if ArtSpace gets rejected for the tax credit, they can apply a second time.

The sale of City Hall to ArtSpace seems to be a prelude to what some residents consider a greater pressing matter: The $8.5 million donation from Severstal. Many residents feel that donation money could be used to re-instate some key services in the City, such as more neighborhood swimming pools, a stronger library system and stronger police enforcement, instead of moving into a new City administrative building. Mayor Jack O’Reilly plans to put the item up for a city council vote later this year.