Editor’s Note: As part of our continuing series on what’s working right in local Michigan communities, this story explores a novel talent attraction and retention strategy in Jackson.
By Monetta Harr
JACKSON — As visitors wind their way through solitary confinement cells and underground tunnels in the historic Jackson State Prison, Judy Gail Krasnow tells stories of prisoners like Harry Evans, who wrote poetry under the name “John Blood” and read it on the radio on Sunday mornings.
“Isn’t that creepy?” asks Krasnow about the man who served time for bank robbery and larceny in the early 20th century.
Krasnow is not only an artist who lives in the newly created Armory Arts Village in what was the historic prison just north of downtown Jackson, but she takes visitors from around the world on tours through the facility.
A 25-foot-high turreted stone wall still surrounds much of the area that was built as the Jackson State Prison in 1839. But today, there are 62 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, many with 18-foot-high ceilings. The apartments stay extra warm in winter and cool in the summer because of 3-foot woven steel walls built so prisoners couldn’t dig their way to freedom.
The $10.6 million project is a creative example of urban development, turning eyesores into cultural opportunity. Jackson converted an abandoned industrial complex on the Grand River into a center for arts and culture that also includes housing and retail businesses. More than $8 million has been raised from foundations, donors, tax credits, a federal home loan and community development block grants.
The project received the 2008 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, which recognizes outstanding historic preservation achievements preserving Michigan communities.
Armory Arts Village has been open to residents since January 2008. It is a Michigan State Housing Development Authority project, which provides affordable housing for folks whose income is below the local median income.
Meanwhile, artists work in studios and classrooms in the Village. There are 11 shared studios, which artists use for painting, sculpting, clay work and writing. Some of their work is displayed in an auditorium that once held four levels of cells. They were removed in 1945 when the new prison was built north of town and the National Guard Armory took over the facility. The Guard moved to a new training site in 2006.
“Our hope is it will be a destination for tourists and drive new tourism money into town,” said Mindy Bradish, president of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce. It also provides new opportunities for local residents to learn about and enjoy the arts.
Spearheaded by the Enterprise Group of Jackson, the Armory Arts Village is located only four blocks north of downtown Jackson, within one of the state’s tax-free Renaissance Zones.
And now the second phase is set to begin this summer, after Excel Realty Group received a tax break from the Jackson City Council that will save it $5.5 million over 35 years as it invests $6.5 million in Armory Arts Commons, 88 townhouse-style apartments for people ages 55 and older. And in the fall, the Grand River Arts Walk will be constructed between the village and downtown to make it even easier for pedestrians to get back and forth to shop, eat and enjoy movies in the downtown historic Michigan Theater.
Across the parking lot from the Village in remodeled factories are a series of small shops that exhibit and sell paintings, jewelry and many other handcrafted items. Other shops host dance classes and serve as galleries, as well as offices.
“There’s a lot of interest outside the community, people wanting to visit Armory Arts Village,” Bradish said. “I see it definitely becoming a factor in our tourism.”
