Project Name: Historic Depot Town Welcome Sign Restoration
ABOUT THE APPLICANT
Are you applying as a:
DDA or CID
What is the entity’s name:
Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority
What downtown area or business corridor does it serve?
Depot Town
Website URL
Twitter Handle:
Facebook Handle:
YpsiDDA
Instagram Handle:
What is the name of the primary contact for this entity’s application/project?
Christopher Jacobs
What are their preferred pronouns?
He/him/his
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Where will your project take place? (please include city/village too)
Ypsilanti, MI
Anticipated project launch date
August 4, 2023
Briefly describe your project idea including your role and any project partners.
The Historic Depot Town Welcome Sign was originally installed at 19 E Cross in the 1980’s but has since slowly deteriorated and we hope to restore it.. It features prominently from many views headed eastward into Depot Town and is located on the corner of Cross St and Rice St.
How do you plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant? Please list and explain the items, services, fees, expertise, etc. that you plan to purchase.
The entire mural restoration is likely to exceed $10,000 to repair or replace the existing signboard according to quotes from sign companies like Johnson Sign and Huron Sign Company. We will hire one of these companies to undertake the sign rehab before contracting with a local artist among the three we have identified who are interested and qualified in the project. Once completed, the sign will be restored to its former glory and once again by an attractive placemaking feature rather than a symbol to the neglect and downturn of our historic commercial spaces over the last 30 years as consumer trends gravitated towards malls and other automobile orientated places. The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority will provide payment for the entire project and accept the $5,000 microgrant as a reimbursable contribution to the overall project cost. This work is also planned to take be unveiled during “First Fridays” in Depot Town on August 4, 2023 and will be the centerpiece of the self guided arts and cultural event programming across more than a dozen local businesses that day. First Fridays Ypsilanti is a non-profit partner to the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority and this capital project would be complementary to the event programming they will be undertaking on August 4th, which further multiplies the impact of these grant dollars and provides opportunities for promotion of the grant program and our partners who helped complete the project.
Will your project require special permits from the community you are in? For example, anything that requires a street closure or installing a permanent art piece will likely require a special permit from your local governing body or zoning board. If your project is funded, the MML Foundation is happy to help you navigate that process. Please note that all applicants must obtain any necessary permits for their projects, if selected for funding.
No
Rachel’s Notes about the Project
Confirmed member status. Confirmed business locations. Confirmed LOS. Unclear/concerned about “reimbursement” language as it sounds like the project will start earlier than 7/15 and be unveiled on 8/4. Question for jury: will funding have an impact on this project?
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Why does your community need this project?
The community needs this project because of its important symbolism, historic character, and creative opportunities afforded to local artists. There will be artist workshops at the adjacent Ypsilanti Freighthouse (100 Market Pl Ypsilanti MI 48198) on August 4th hosted by First Fridays coinciding with the unveiling of the restored mural. Many community members and business owners who were present when the sign was originally installed will be present and active contributors to the project by hosting live entertainment and arts for their customers and visitors to Depot Town that day. The project helps connect our present and past, while celebrative the vibrant creative and artistic community that calls Ypsilanti home. Over the last 5-10 years there has been a resurgence of the arts and economy in our historic commercial places like Depot Town and this project is a capstone to that work. First Fridays and the Downtown Development Authority will prioritize local artists and diverse representation across racial, generational, and cultural demographics. The community needs this project because of the opportunities it will provide to local artists, the historic value of the restoration project, and the benefits it provides local businesses as venues by drawing visitors to Depot Town.
How will you engage your community in this project?
First Fridays Ypsilanti and the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority have a strong working relationship and will be well positioned to engage the community in this project through social media, in person outreach and our newsletter / other print content. First Fridays maps are handed out throughout the city at local businesses who participate and hopping between venues is a common theme that business owners consistently report provides well above average sales. Often a First Fridays event brings enough patrons to local businesses that it means a great deal to their monthly profitability, while also providing safe and family friendly entertainment to those visiting Ypsilanti. The events are usually very well attended and promoted, especially given the overlap with the Ypsilanti Bicentennial in 2023 which offers further opportunities to promote and engage the community while celebrating our history.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
We hope to achieve several goals through this project.
1. To restore the Historic Depot Town Welcome Sign
2. To leverage the arts and creative community to support local participating business venues during the unveiling on August 4th
3. To engage the public in arts and creative opportunities that build bridge across generational, racial, cultural, economic demographics.
4. To continue building the network of public art opportunities that give character to Depot Town.
How will the project celebrate the community’s diversity? Diversity can include different ages, races, cultures, socio-economic statuses, abilities, and more.
The project will celebrate the communities diversity by drawing on the wealth of knowledge and ability of local artists and collaborators. First Fridays and the Downtown Development Authority are committed to equity and have dedicated committees who meet monthly to review where and how we spend our limited financial resources to ensure equity across our stakeholders. We use an equity lens in every facet of decision making from how we communicate and engage the public, to where our financial resources are spent, and who we choose as community partners in this work to ensure representation across the many types of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences that exist in Ypsilanti.
What resources do you already have to make this project successful? Resources could include things like time, partners, expertise, donated goods/materials/space, matching funds, and more. Please approximate the in-kind value if possible.
We have project partners in local artists and the First Fridays Ypsilanti organization. There are available TIF funds in the Depot Town district to support the total project cost.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Artist First and Last Name:
Narooz Soliman
Artist Instagram Handle
Naroozpaints
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
Narooz describes himself this way: ” Painter of signs, murals, windows, and dogs. Proud @brushmonkeys crew member! Ypsi-based. Has brushes, will travel :)”
How will the artist be involved in this project?
Narooz will be the artist that restores the mural while a contractor will restore the sign board and mounting to the building.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Business 1: Business Name:
The Thrift Depot
Business 1: Business Type:
Retail
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Freda Klaussen
Business 1: Physical Location Address
19 E Cross Ypsilanti MI 48198
Business 1: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
thethriftdepot
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
How will this partner be involved in the project?
The Thrift Depot is home to the building where the Historic Depot Town Welcome Sign will be restored and will be a venue on August 4th to host First Fridays.
Business 2: Business Name:
734 Brewing
Business 2: Business Type:
Brewery
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Brian Jones Chance
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
15 E Cross St Ypsilanti MI 48198
Business 2: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Business 2: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
How will this second partner be involved in the project?
734 Brewing is located directly across the street from the sign we seek to restore and is an ideal viewing location for the unveiling. 734 Brewing is also a featured venue on the First Fridays Ypsilanti Map and will participate in the event on August 4th with drink specials and hosting artist workshops.
Do you have additional partners (business, non-profit, etc.)?
No
What are their names?
What role(s) will they have in the project?
Are they located within the same downtown or business district as the project?
Will your local municipal government be involved in the project? If so, how?
Yes, by providing the Ypsilanti Freighthouse as a venue for the August 4th unveiling event
Please upload a letter of support on letterhead for your project from your local governing body (mayor, city/village manager, city/village council member).
Click the icon(s) below to view. Note that this may download to your computer depending on the file type.
IMAGE UPLOADS
Image Caption 1 (if any): A photo of the sign take in 2014
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): The Historic Depot Town Welcome Sign photo taken in the 1980s
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): A photo of the sign and surrounding location take 2021
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): A first fridays event in Depot Town in 2020
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any): A first fridays event in Depot Town 2016
Image 5 (if any):
