Council declines $40,000 Federal grant for Aquarium roof

esteban · #1 November 27th, 2009, 12:58 PM

Members of the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium are astounded today to find that the Detroit City Council DECLINED a $40,000 grant from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) which receives federal Historic Preservation Fund monies are offered to operate the state's historic preservation programs. Each year 10 percent of the SHPO's federal grant is awarded to Certified Local Governments (CLGs).

This year the Belle Isle Aquarium succeeded in receiving such a grant, but the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium were astounded to find that the Detroit Council has actually declined accepting it.
There seems to be a serious disconnect between a citizenry wishing to preserve their historical buildings and the officials elected to perform the business of the people.

Belle Isle Aquarium (Sister-building to Belle Isle Conservatory) was closed through an agreement between Detroit Zoo director Mr. Kagan and former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in 2005. In shutting down the Aquarium, Mr. Kagan was able to cut the financial strings to Detroit and receive more lucrative funds from Oakland County.
As a sop, the former mayor was given the impression that a super-aquarium was to be constructed downtown Detroit, which we now know amounted to nothing more than wishful thinking.

Super-aquariums became a must-have in the previous decades, and since the '80, these have proliferated throughout the country, increasing the amount of these institutions from the teens to the upper twenties. Few of these are able to sustain themselves without massive support from other sources, and my own personal objection to them is that kids get tired halfway through their massive exhibit.
The Belle Isle Aquarium, designed by Albert Kahn, is the OLDEST aquarium in the Americas and the ONLY public aquarium in Michigan. The aquarium is an ideal size for school children, being neither too big nor too small.
In comparison, costs for running the Belle Isle Aquarium are laughably small. To put it into perspective, direct losses through lawsuits incurred by the ousted mayor and which were paid for by the City, would have kept the aquarium open for eighteen years!

It's a pity the city can't pull this together.

jt1 · #2 November 27th, 2009, 02:52 PM

I assume there is more to it than the city just saying, "No thanks, we don't want free money"

Can you clarify any stipulations, conditions, etc that come with it?

buildingsofdetroit · #3 November 27th, 2009, 03:32 PM

That makes ZERO sense. Was there a catch on the cash? When did the council vote to reject it? This is the first I've heard about this.

Cooper · #4 November 27th, 2009, 04:53 PM

The guidelines state that "All grants must be matched with local funds or donations and are available on a reimbursement basis only." But it still seems outrageous that the city would turn the money down (couldn't matching funds have been raised from a foundation or through donations to the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium?). It's also outrageous that this story was never covered in the news. I, for one, would like to learn the whole story.

http://www.michigan.gov/mshda/0,1607...7497--,00.html

Jimaz · #5 November 27th, 2009, 05:28 PM

It wouldn't seem difficult to match only $40,000. Maybe $40,000 (or $80,000?!) isn't enough to complete the job?

I searched for more news on this but found nothing.

esteban · #6 November 27th, 2009, 08:17 PM

I believe the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium have most of the matching funds and a business plan.

esteban · #7 November 27th, 2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimaz

I searched for more news on this but found nothing.

I believe this is breaking news. It was released to me from the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium board members. They just found out, and are completely taken aback. You can contact board members here:
http://belleisleaquarium.com/fobia_contacts.htm

MichMatters · #8 November 27th, 2009, 08:55 PM

I, too, would like to hear more info before I make a final judgement. There really does have to be more to this.

BTW, I'm reading the quote that Cooper posted, and if I'm reading it right, to receive the grant, you must have the full amont of money you need, and only then will they reimburse you half of that? Am I reading that right? So, Detroit (city, foundations, whatever) would have to come up with both the $40,000 matching and the $40,000 for the grant that will later be reimbursed?

esteban · #9 November 27th, 2009, 10:13 PM

MichMatters, I believe the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium have matching funds, otherwise it would seem pointless to have applied?

kathy2trips · #10 November 28th, 2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteban

I believe this is breaking news. It was released to me from the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium board members. They just found out, and are completely taken aback. You can contact board members here:
http://belleisleaquarium.com/fobia_contacts.htm

Can they sue to receive the money? Let me know when their legal fund is set up.

Detroitej72 · #11 November 28th, 2009, 01:37 AM

As a youth of Detroit Public Schools, every spring we would take a field trip to Belle Isle which included taking in the sights at "the flower house" and the aquarium. It was a highlight of all us city kids school year, complete with a trip to the giant slide and play scape.

We would have lunch at the old Loiter Way concessions stand. It always consisted of hot dogs, fries, lemonade and horrible pizza.(which we referred to as shit on a shingle, outside of the ears of adults)

Any clown council that would veto funds to reopen the aquarium should be publicly flogged and beaten, as its obvious they hate children!!!

Blarf · #12 November 28th, 2009, 02:25 AM

Can't they snag 40,000 from Kwame's restitution payments? Might take a few decades, but it's a start.

pkbroch · #13 November 28th, 2009, 11:34 AM

This grant was announced in June 2009. Does anyone know when and if it was voted on and who voted and how they voted. ??

Patrick · #14 November 28th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Maybe they want to take it down?

esteban · #15 November 29th, 2009, 11:37 PM

Hopefully there will be more information about this debacle in the coming week...

detroitsgwenivere · #16 November 30th, 2009, 01:14 AM

Now I'm really worried about what this council's intentions are regarding Belle Island. There have been numerous stories in the papers over the years about developers approaching the city wanting to build luxury condos that island, and receiving a willing ear from the DEGC. I know it's premature without more info, but this grant refusal thing stinks, and there's no telling how far Bing and co. will go to bring in revenue to help slow the financial hemorrage. God, I hope that's not what time it is.....

MichMatters · #17 November 30th, 2009, 01:43 AM

Gwenivere, please don't forget that there is a new incoming council. So imminent, in fact, that we're talking about a few weeks (January). Not just that, the council is in recess until then. So, short of a special session (which is about as likely as snow in hell seeing as how they often can't get quorum at a regular session), there is very little harm this current council make-up can do. If the developers are still trying to develop on Belle Isle (I haven't heard about that, in years), they'll have to try to buy off the new council.

detroitsgwenivere · #18 November 30th, 2009, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichMatters

Gwenivere, please don't forget that there is a new incoming council. So imminent, in fact, that we're talking about a few weeks (January). Not just that, the council is in recess until then. So, short of a special recess (which is about as likely as snow in hell seeing as how they often can't get quorum at a regular session), there is very little harm this current council make-up can do. If the developers are still trying to develop on Belle Isle (I haven't heard about that, in years), they'll have to try to buy off the new council.

Im aware of this. I'm just worried, because there has been talk of developing for so long, and so many have been fighting to reopen the aquarium, it would be a shame to lose such a gem. And I won't trust the new council until I see them in action for awhile. There's no telling where things will head and it's hard to take the glass half full approach when that usually leads to disappointment. But thanks for the reassurance.....

NDmom · #19 December 1st, 2009, 01:28 PM

gwenivere - remember about 1-2 years ago a story came out about Kilpatrick's wanting to buy the old Detroit Boat Club, (by the entrance to the island) for a "school" with dorms? And then I think they wanted to or did buy some land next to it so they could expand.

ghettopalmetto · #20 December 1st, 2009, 01:47 PM

Where's PQZ to remind us how preservation-minded the City of Detroit is?

rjlj · #21 December 1st, 2009, 02:45 PM

^^^^ Funny

detrola · #22 December 1st, 2009, 04:19 PM

Viewing a federal grant as "free money" is one of the big problems with our society. Where do you think money from a federal grant comes from? Wake up sheeple!

ghettopalmetto · #23 December 1st, 2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detrola

Viewing a federal grant as "free money" is one of the big problems with our society. Where do you think money from a federal grant comes from? Wake up sheeple!

And if your local government got no federal money, you'd wonder where all your tax dollars went....

Bearinabox · #24 December 1st, 2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by detrola

Wake up sheeple!

I always love it when people use this phrase, because then I'm saved the trouble of taking them seriously.

esteban · #25 December 1st, 2009, 06:15 PM

A Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium board member informs me, "...Joann Watson's office said it was the Mayor's doing. She has a call into the Mayor's office and is trying to get to the bottom of it for us. It seems very weird...."

That's all I have for now.

detroitsgwenivere · #26 December 1st, 2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteban

A Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium board member informs me, "...Joann Watson's office said it was the Mayor's doing. She has a call into the Mayor's office and is trying to get to the bottom of it for us. It seems very weird...."

That's all I have for now.

Oh, my Heart.....!!!

jt1 · #27 December 1st, 2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteban

A Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium board member informs me, "...Joann Watson's office said it was the Mayor's doing. She has a call into the Mayor's office and is trying to get to the bottom of it for us. It seems very weird...."

That's all I have for now.

So let me get this straight:
1. FOBI (A damn good organization) says that CC refused money from the feds. With nothing to support this you post this.
2. After a follow up you blindly believe JoAnn Watson (of all people) that Mayor Bing refused the money.

I'm a proponent of facts so maybe before finding out that the Easter Bunny refused the funds we should get some concrete facts.

The truth is I called the feds and told them no thanks.

Guideboat · #28 December 2nd, 2009, 11:55 PM

Any new information on this?

Canute · #29 December 3rd, 2009, 10:28 AM

MonCon probably stole $40k in computers alone.

English · #30 December 3rd, 2009, 11:40 AM

Sounds as if the Council just did it to spite the Friends of the BIA. I wouldn't be surprised.

Hopefully the funds will be available again under the Pugh council. Say what you like about him, but I don't think the historic and symbolic importance of the aquarium will be lost on a media guy.

Fury13 · #31 December 3rd, 2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

Sounds as if the Council just did it to spite the Friends of the BIA. I wouldn't be surprised.

Hopefully the funds will be available again under the Pugh council. Say what you like about him, but I don't think the historic and symbolic importance of the aquarium will be lost on a media guy.

Hope you're right. The aquarium is a special place. It's one of those resources we can't afford to lose.

Detroit Stylin · #32 December 3rd, 2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fury13

Hope you're right. The aquarium is a special place. It's one of those resources we can't afford to lose.

or replicate nor replace.....

tallboy66 · #33 December 3rd, 2009, 09:15 PM

And the self destruction continues.

tallboy66 · #34 December 3rd, 2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fury13

Hope you're right. The aquarium is a special place. It's one of those resources we can't afford to lose.

And the Motown building, and tiger Stadium and... just tear it down and put up another parking lot.

Dan · #35 December 3rd, 2009, 09:39 PM

Morons....

barebain · #36 December 4th, 2009, 01:27 PM

Couple of details I picked up while doing some google stalk:

According to the MI SHPO website (i.e. the people responsible for awarding the grant), the $40,000 grant was, in fact, declined.

There was also a Freep article stating that the repairs to the roof would amount to $195,000 total.

As a historical architect, I have seen these grants in action. They are distributed on a yearly basis, with funds coming from the National Park Service. They must be used for their intended purpose, and there is a timeline to use them once allocated. The grant is a 60-40 matching grant, with the recipient having to pay the entire project cost up front. The recipient then asks the state for reimbursement of 60% of the total project costs not to exceed the limit of the grant.

All of this means that the city would have to foot the $195,000 bill for the roof renovation (not sure how much money the FOBIA has to contribute) sometime over the course of the next fiscal year. My guess is, the city took one look at that contract, and said, "Not this year, not with a $300 million deficit", and declined the grant.

Not sure if the FOBIA could re-submit their application. SHPO is usually pretty understanding of the economics of any development project, but they might need some pretty definitive commitment from the city to do the restoration if a future grant is to be allocated.

MichMatters · #37 December 4th, 2009, 10:20 PM

Thank you for doing some research, barebain. I'm still eagerly awaiting the local media to pick this up, though. It's definitely newsworthy, and I'd like to hear the council and/or mayor say, themselves, that this was the reason for the declining to send this forward.

esteban · #38 January 21st, 2010, 05:09 PM

The money is gone. President Vance Patrick of the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium informs us that we have to re-apply for the $40,000 in kind contribution grant from the state. The previous City council simply could not find the time to pull it's thumb out of it's ass to send an acceptance. Hopefully the new City Council can demonstrate a modicum of competence.

Zacha341 · #39 January 21st, 2010, 05:15 PM

I'm looking for more info too and just angry... so are we just to bull-doze every remaining gem of the city? Perhaps I should just calm down...

there's got to be some explanation...? Right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimaz

It wouldn't seem difficult to match only $40,000. Maybe $40,000 (or $80,000?!) isn't enough to complete the job?

I searched for more news on this but found nothing.

Zacha341 · #40 January 21st, 2010, 05:31 PM

Thank you for this info... it is appreciated!

Quote:

Originally Posted by barebain

Couple of details I picked up while doing some google stalk:

According to the MI SHPO website (i.e. the people responsible for awarding the grant), the $40,000 grant was, in fact, declined.

There was also a Freep article stating that the repairs to the roof would amount to $195,000 total.

As a historical architect, I have seen these grants in action. They are distributed on a yearly basis, with funds coming from the National Park Service. They must be used for their intended purpose, and there is a timeline to use them once allocated. The grant is a 60-40 matching grant, with the recipient having to pay the entire project cost up front. The recipient then asks the state for reimbursement of 60% of the total project costs not to exceed the limit of the grant.

All of this means that the city would have to foot the $195,000 bill for the roof renovation (not sure how much money the FOBIA has to contribute) sometime over the course of the next fiscal year. My guess is, the city took one look at that contract, and said, "Not this year, not with a $300 million deficit", and declined the grant.

Not sure if the FOBIA could re-submit their application. SHPO is usually pretty understanding of the economics of any development project, but they might need some pretty definitive commitment from the city to do the restoration if a future grant is to be allocated.

Guideboat · #41 January 21st, 2010, 11:59 PM

Can they get someone in to at least board up the open window frames in the cupola? Hell, for that matter, I'll volunteer to do it if some springs for a few sheets of plywood. Really.