'I want to arouse more public interest in Ypsilanti and especially in its richest resources, the wealth of old buildings of its center.'
— Dr. Jack Harris
Dr. Jack Harris is launching a series of meetings to arouse public interest in what he believes is one of Ypsilanti's major problems — the blight and decay of many older buildings in the city.
Harris, an associate professor of English at Eastern Michigan University, has been awarded a grant for $11,751 from the Michigan Council for the Humanities to fund the project.
He plans a series of five bimonthly meetings, each one focused on a particular building in the city.
One building — an historical, architectural and visual landmark — will be selected from each major area of the city: Depot Town, the EMU campus area or west side, the east side and the south side.
Each program will consist of a speaker, some coming from outside the community and a panel discussion, with the final portion opened for general discussion.
Harris is attempting to mingle representatives from diverse elements of the community, especially mixing academia with the business and political world.
"I want to arouse more public interest in Ypsilanti and especially in its richest resources, the wealth of old buildings at its center," he said.
"We would want to raise questions, although we could not be expected to have all the answers," he said.
Harris and the proponents of historical preservation were encouraged by the recent council action.
A few of the questions to be covered include:
What do we do with the old buildings in the community? Does the old have a place? Is it viable? Can it be saved? Is the price worth it? How can it be done? When should an old building be saved and when should it be abandoned? Those are just a few of the questions Harris hopes to bring to the forefront.
Participants will tour the site to explore the building physically. When possible, the meeting will take place in the building under discussion.
The first of the public programs will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the old Artrain Building, home of Don and Beverly Shankwiler, who have restored the structure, located at 52 1/2 E. Cross St. in Depot Town.
Mrs. Shankwiler, a sculptor and professor in the EMU art department, will talk briefly about the steps she and her husband took in restoration of the building.
Guest speaker will be Dr. John Kern, historic preservation coordinator, Michigan History Division, Dept. of State, Lansing. Dr.
Kern will relate the Depot "Restoration to what is happening in terms of restoration elsewhere in the state.
Throughout the year the meetings will be hosted by the Ypsilanti Heritage Foundation, which is donating refreshments. All meetings are open to the public.