What’s the deal?
Jan 31 2011 in Blog by Tim Adkins (admin)
I’ve looked at this building for the 10+ years I’ve been living in Ypsi and wondered what was going on with it. I’ve
What do you see with this buildings' potential?
been told this building has been vacant for 20+ years. Does anyone know? There’s been a lot of talk lately about what’s to become of the former Pub 13 and Savoy/Club Divine venues, and with the new development plans for the buildings on Cross St. (across from EMU), I think to really connect all the dots and make downtown Ypsi develop, this building’s vacancy needs to be addressed and not ignored. In my opinion it’s as much of an eyesore and problem as is the Thompson Block in Depot Town and it seems to hold the same potential, if not more.
I’ve always envisioned this to be a great place for a community revolutionizing project. It could do so many things like house the farmer’s market, be a big name retail store (Dick’s or MC Sports), a community center, a movie theater or the most obvious a destination bar/club. I’m even convinced that EMU could use it for classes or a new college, playing off of downtown’s College of Business. If nothing else, it could be used for large special events or some kind of rental space for art galleries, much like smaller vacancies have done (VG Kids former building for the Ypsi Project Gallery).
What do you envision for this building? What’s the story with it’s vacancy? Will anything ever come of it?
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It used to be a furniture store…. if i remember correctly.
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I completely agree with you Tim. I think this building has lots of great potential! I would love to see it be converted into a community art or social center. The location couldn’t be better.
Erika is correct, the building use to be a furniture store – and you can see it during several scenes of the movie, Whip It! I do not believe however, that the current owners are not willing to sell it at the moment.
I always look at that building when I walk by. I always imagine it as a community area with shops for people. Similar to KerryTown in A2 .
@kelly and @anne, thanks for commenting. We’ll see I guess, but I just always walk by and say, that’d be a cool place for ______ ! So many ideas, it’s just a bit frustrating that it seems to have been ignored for this long. Maybe we should set up a flash mob and dance in front of it it protest of it just sitting there!
I walk by there almost every day and think the same thing! My son thinks it would make an awesome art gallery! It breaks my heart to see a beautiful, empty building sitting there, dripping internally! Of course I have to mention that the various mold spores on the walls, carpets, ceilings, etc… are lovely colors…
FLASH MOB! WOOHOO!
if ypsi was run by the voluntary interactions of consenting individuals rather than a bureaucratic, monopolistic, government, there would be far fewer abandon buildings and far more commerce.
@michelle, you got a problem with mold or something? haha @Pratt, I think if most things, not just Ypsi were run by voluntary interactions of consenting individuals, we’d have a lot less problems. Thanks for the comments!
The whole thing is Wabi-Sabi. From the moldy falling ceilings to the ever expanding cracks in the foundation, it is a slow visual delight of decay. until one day, maybe soon, It collapses into a tragic pile.
@ TIm- Oh no! lol. I was actually commenting on how beautiful the colors were!
@michelle haha oh right… I knew that!