Public Funding of Artists Enclave, Rec Complex Uncertain

PLYMOUTH, MI – Future public funding for an artists’ enclave and recreation complex in the 99-year-old former Central Middle School may not be decided until after the November general election.

The 160,000-square-foot Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex has an arts wing and room for 55 tenants.

The Michigan Philharmonic was the first to take a space last summer, and even without a formal marketing effort, spaces are filling up, Don Soenen, who runs the nonprofit PARC, told The Plymouth Observer.

In fact, 62 performances and four operas have been staged at the facility since August.

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“We are way ahead of schedule,” Soenen said. “There has been a tremendous demand for arts, education and recreation. It is a place they can call home.”

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools sold the old school in 2015 to Mark and Patty Malcolm $3.3 million, payable in three installments: a $1.5 million payment last year, another $1 million this year and $800,000 in 2017.

The school district owns the building until the final payment is made, and Malcolms have said they plan to donate the facility to PARC once the debt is satisfied.

The governing boards of the city of Plymouth and the township of Plymouth are at odds about how that should happen.

The Plymouth City Commission supports the plan, but the Plymouth Township Board adopted a resolution two years ago that effectively stops the township from participating in any taxing authority with the city until after the November election.

“We would like to see the city and township get together on this,” Soenen said.

Whether that happens could depend on whether the makeup of the Plymouth Township board changes in November.

» For more on this story, go to hometownlife.com.