Developer Pitches Idea for Argo Art Walk

Ann Arbor public art commission meeting (Jan. 4, 2011): Marsha Chamberlin, as the commission’s acting chair, began Tuesday’s meeting by noting that many of the commissioners planned to attend a memorial gathering for Peter Pollack, a landscape architect and community activist who passed away last month. Because of that, she said, they would make the meeting as expeditious as possible – it lasted less than an hour.

Part of that time was spent hearing a proposal by local developer Peter Allen, who urged commissioners to consider creating some kind of art walk in the Argo Pond area, possibly installing sculptures and using Percent for Art funds from the recently approved millrace reconstruction project. Two city parks hug Argo Pond – Bandemer on the west and Argo on the east.

Allen cited the Michigan Legacy Art Park at the Crystal Mountain resort as an example of something that could be used as a model, and he offered to explore the possibility of seeking matching private funds for the project.

Art Sculpture Park at Argo?

Peter Allen – a local landlord, real estate developer and adjunct faculty at the University of Michigan – is a frequent attendee at local government meetings. He also serves on the city’s greenbelt advisory commission. But this was his first time attending an AAPAC meeting – it’s relatively rare for anyone to speak during public commentary at these meetings.

He began by telling commissioners that he and his partners own five buildings on North Main, so he takes an interest in that area. He said they’ve built the cairns that are visible from the road, and spend time clearing invasive plants at the nearby Argo Pond.

Recently, he visited the Crystal Mountain resort in northern Michigan – a development that includes golf courses, ski slopes, a spa and housing, as well as the Michigan Legacy Art Park. The area was designed years ago by JJR, he noted – commissioner Cheryl Zuellig currently works for that firm. The art park is located within a pristine woods, Allen said. He passed out brochures from the Michigan Legacy Art Park, which includes a map that described the sculptures and showed their locations within the park.

Allen said he hoped AAPAC would consider something similar for Bandemer Park in Ann Arbor, on the west side of Argo Pond, and Argo Nature Area on the east. The recently approved Argo dam millrace reconstruction could play a role, he said. The city council approved the $1,168,170 project at its Nov. 15, 2010 meeting, and construction is expected to begin this year. As a capital project, its budget would include 1% set aside for public art. The roughly $11,000 could serve as a start for the public art, Allen said, adding that he would be willing to contribute as well, and to help seek matching funds.

He also volunteered to talk with DTE Energy about contributing – the utility company owns about 12 acres of land south of Argo dam, but isn’t using it at this point. Allen noted that the University of Michigan School of Art & Design leases his building at 1250 N. Main that overlooks Argo Pond. It’s used for faculty studio space. They might want to get involved as well, he said.

Another spot in that area that would be suitable for public art is the triangle-shaped piece of land near the US-14 exit onto North Main, Allen said. Having art there would serve as a welcoming entrance to the city, he said.

While having public art installations around Argo Pond and in the North Main area would clearly benefit his buildings, Allen said, he thought it would be a community asset as well.

Commissioners indicated that they’d consider the idea. They asked Allen to write up a summary of his presentation, which they could use as part of a project intake form. Jeff Meyers said the most promising aspect was the possibility of a public/private partnership – it would take a lot more than $11,000 to fund a project like this, he noted.

In a follow-up email to two commissioners and The Chronicle, Allen said that other entities located in the North Main area that might be interested in the project include the Artrain, Huron River Watershed Council, First Martin Corp. and the city of Ann Arbor’s Argo canoe livery.

Updates: Fuller Road Station, Mural Program, Municipal Center

None of AAPAC’s three committees met since the commission’s mid-December meeting, but there were brief updates on some projects.

Fuller Road Station

Connie Brown of AAPAC’s projects committee reported that the Fuller Road Station task force for public art is being formed. She expressed concern about who would be handling the request for proposals (RFP) for the project – she’d been told that the city’s project manager, Dave Dykman, would take care of it. She said it was important to coordinate with AAPAC, like they did with the West Park sculpture installation. [The Fuller Road Station project, which hasn't yet received approval by city council, has set aside $250,000 for public art. The architects of the large parking structure and bus depot – and, possibly, an eventual train station – have already identified locations for the artwork, as well as the kind of art they’d like. The project was discussed in more detail at AAPAC's December 2010 meeting.]

Mural Program

Jeff Meyers reported that the task force for the mural program – which AAPAC approved at its November 2010 meeting – is still being formed. Members so far include Meyers, Connie Pulcipher of the city’s systems planning staff, and Mariah Cherem, the former metro Detroit community manager for Yelp.com. Cherem is returning to school and will have more time for the task force, Meyers reported, adding that she represents a younger demographic.

Meyers said that his original timeline was ambitious, and they’re running a bit behind that schedule. However, he still hopes the task force will convene and identify potential mural sites before AAPAC’s February meeting.

Municipal Center

Margaret Parker, who serves as chair of the municipal center public art task force, reported that they’re ready to develop a request for qualifications (RFQ) for artwork in the lobby of the new building, located at the northeast corner of Huron and Fifth. Venita Harrison, a city management assistant who serves as a liaison for AAPAC to the city’s administration, will put together a draft, Parker said. When that’s ready, the task force will meet again to review it and make a recommendation.

At last month’s meeting, AAPAC voted unanimously to recommend installing the nine-panel, 27-foot-wide mosaic murals by artist Gerome Kamrowski in the atrium area of the building, on the west wall. In total, AAPAC has budgeted $250,000 for public art at the municipal center, above the amount budgeted separately for an outdoor sculpture by Herbert Dreiseitl, which cost nearly $750,000. The funding is allocated from the city’s Percent for Art program.

Parker did not give an update on the Dreiseitl project, or on the costs associated with the other municipal center projects.

Leadership Change: Still No Permanent Chair

Margaret Parker, who had served as AAPAC’s chair since 2004, stepped down from that position last year. However, no other commissioners were willing to take the job, and at their December meeting the group decided to rotate the responsibility of chairing the meetings until a permanent chair is elected. On Tuesday, Marsha Chamberlin filled that role.

Commissioners again discussed the issue. Jeff Meyers speculated that their reticence to become AAPAC’s chair was based in part on the fact that a public art administrator hasn’t yet been hired. That part-time position was previously held by Katherine Talcott, who became a project manager for the city last year. The vacancy is being posted, but it’s unclear how long it will take to fill.

Parker noted that Venita Harrison, a management assistant who works for Sue McCormick – one of the city’s top administrators – is very responsive, and has taken on many of the duties that Talcott used to handle. Cheryl Zuellig noted that while this is true, a public art administrator would be pro-active and take more of a leadership role.

By way of explanation to the commission’s newest member, Malverne Winborne, Chamberlin said that in addition to not having a permanent chair, the position of vice chair is also unfilled, and has been empty for over a year. She also noted that there is still a vacancy on the commission, following the resignation of Jim Curtis. Meyers said he expected that appointment to be made soon, but did not elaborate. [The mayor makes nominations to the city's boards and commissions, and those nominations must be approved by the city council. It's a process that typically plays out over two consecutive council meetings, which occur bi-weekly.]

When Meyers said he wouldn’t even begin to entertain the possibility of being chair until the public art administrator’s job was filled, fellow commissioner Elaine Sims quipped, “I heard a door slightly ajar!” Meyers said he’d consider becoming chair, but not for at least six months.

Chamberlin asked if they could reach consensus on continuing to have a rotating chair – she volunteered for next month as well – while communicating to McCormick that they needed to expedite the hiring process. Other commissioners agreed with that approach.

Commissioners present: Connie Brown, Marsha Chamberlin, Cathy Gendron, Jeff Meyers, Margaret Parker, Elaine Sims, Malverne Winborne, Cheryl Zuellig. Others: Local developer Peter Allen.

Next regular meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 4:30 p.m., 7th floor conference room of the City Center Building, 220 E. Huron St. [confirm date]