The Old Art Building (OAB) has an unexpected opportunity to secure access to a waterfront property just adjacent from its current location.
While the organization is in its early information gathering stage to assess if the community supports the potential new project, Executive Director Sarah Mills said the chance to buy land so close to where they are now is rare and would support both their mission and long-term goals of the OAB.
“This property really presents us a remarkable opportunity to do something that is mission driven and the long-term delivery of our programs would be outstanding,” Mills said. “The location makes sense for us and that’s another piece that has really been a wonderful fit as we take the time to explore this… certainly our vision is to be able to have this be an extension of our campus and we can use that space. So how exactly that’s going to unfold, we have to wait and see.”
“The board is enthusiastic about this unexpected opportunity and how the property aligns with the mission of the Old Art Building,” said OAB Board President Kerry Satterwhite about the possible acquisition. “We recognize the responsibility to plan for the long term future of our organization and our community.”
The proposed 1.14 acre acquisition, located at 204 Cedar Street and kitty-corner from the OAB, is an exclusive option agreement that aligns with the master plan and is intended to alleviate pressure on the historic existing building off South Main Street. With easy access to the OAB and the community, the location would also extend Leland’s “Cultural Campus” which includes the OAB, Leland Township Public Library, the Leelanau Historical Society, and the Fishtown Preservation Society. The purchase price for the Cedar Street property is roughly $3,100,000, and also includes other closing costs and fees.
OAB wasn’t looking to buy property until the Lukomski sisters, current owners of the Cedar Street property, approached Mills and OAB staff about the idea of selling it. While the news was unanticipated, Mills said OAB staff are grateful to the family for their willingness to engage with them for the property and honor the community center’s vision and mission.
“We’re so grateful that we even have this opportunity that they would think this way as far as what to do with their property, so it’s really been wonderful to engage with them as this opportunity has unfolded,” Mills said.
In addition to the property presenting a unique opportunity to meet increasing demand for arts education, gallery space and community programming, it would allow OAB to provide an enhanced experience for performers, artists, and visitors. The community would have more outdoor space and new access to 280 feet of natural shorelines preserved for future generations, with a possible alternative being a developer’s option of dividing the property into many buildable lots.
Mills said since they bought the existing OAB in 2021 from Michigan State University after a successful capital campaign, the organization underwent a three year strategic planning process that was driven by a lot of community support and input. In response to a 2023 board-led master planning process, the OAB identified areas needing improvement within its organization to help accommodate the nearly 20,000 visitors every year, such as its expansion and preservation in the area. A comprehensive needs assessment was then developed to bring all of the current and foreseeable future needs under one umbrella.
The OAB Board of Directors approved a professional feasibility study, which is a process nonprofits undertake from time to time when looking at a capital campaign, to be distributed to members and donors at the beginning of 2024. The survey just wrapped up on February 5 and will determine whether OAB’s goals and aspirations would be supported by the community.
“We’ve had this incredible increase in demand for our programming, and part of what we were tasked with in the strategic and master plan was how do we meet that demand and how do we preserve the Old Art Building,” Mills said. “(The feasibility study) is going to help us know if we are ready for this and gauge what the scope of that effort is going to be.”
A capital campaign has yet to start and a total of how much money will need to be raised hasn’t been determined. Until the OAB board votes on a campaign, the organization isn’t taking any pledges or accepting any gifts for the project either. At this point, Mills said they want to make sure they ask all the questions and get as much feedback as they can before making a decision to move forward.
“If we find that there is support in the community, the board would make a decision (by mid-February) to launch a campaign,” she said. “The board has been really wonderful about really working through the process one step at a time. Until we know that we can buy the property, everything that we will do on it or to it is the next step from that.”
