“Finally, it’s here,” states Matt Cooper, Chef and Instructor of Culinary Arts at Mott Community College. “It’s amazing and I can’t wait to get to work and show students everything it has to offer.” The new Mott Culinary Arts Institute is now open in Downtown Flint and everyone is excited. The state-of-the-art facility features everything a student will see in the world of culinary arts. The Institute has a test kitchen, a baking kitchen, an advanced pastry kitchen, a meat-cutting lab, a dry meat room, an oak-lined wine cellar and multiple instruction rooms. Each room is chock-full of the best technology available. “We have the best there is to offer,” adds Cooper. “We have cameras throughout the rooms that I can control during classes. I can zoom in on my hands to show a particular technique or to show what a student is working on. The blinds in the classroom windows will lower automatically when we want to show something on the monitor. The designers thought of everything.” It’s all extremely futuristic and perfect for teaching students everything they need to know and getting them experience working with all of the equipment that they will see when they graduate the program and settle into their careers.
On the ground floor of the Dryden Building in Downtown Flint, a group of ten pop-up shops are up and running, and according to Mary Kang, Human Resource Coordinator with Skypoint Ventures, they are gaining popularity. Kang is currently running the gallery of shops.
Good things are happening at the University of Michigan-Flint. Yet another major Downtown project is underway that will benefit students and the community at large. UM-Flint Chancellor, Susan Borrego, is proud to announce the latest Downtown development, the expansion of the William R. Murchie Science Building – home to thousands of students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) program. A Groundbreaking Ceremony is set for October 11 at 3pm, open to all campus and community members. Designed by Architect, Harley Ellis Devereaux in Southfield, the expansion is expected to be complete in January 2021.
The variety of shopping opportunities in Downtown Flint just might surprise you! Here’s a look at the many unique businesses you can find during a stroll on the bricks.
A $19 million Downtown housing project is in the works at the site of the old YWCA at 310 E. Third Street. According to Jacob Horner, Vice President of Development with PK Development Group in Okemos, construction will begin as soon as the old YWCA building is demolished. PK Development Group was contracted by Uptown Developments to oversee the project. Horner is the lead person for the building of two structures – one is a four-story, mixed-use building on the north side of the property facing the bus station. There will be three retail spaces available on the first floor totaling 4,600 square feet. The building will also house 75 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The structure on the south end will house a series of town homes, according to Horner. “We want to cater to families,” says the vice president. “We want to provide housing that will include all demographic groups.” He says half of the housing will be designated as affordable, and half will be market-rate housing.
In November 2015, tragedy struck when the Whaley Historic House Museum caught fire. In the early afternoon, the roof was engulfed in flames and pieces of Flint’s history were lost. The cause of the blaze was determined to be accidental. “Copper gutters were being welded,” explains Executive Director, Daniel Conner. “The previous director smelled smoke and then saw the flames.” The fire started near one of the chimneys, damaging the roof and the third floor. There was smoke and water damage throughout the rest of the museum. “That was the real disaster,” Conner admits. The damages totaled $2 million.
In late March, the City of Flint began demolishing the Hamilton Dam, located next to the campus of UM-Flint. The effort, which kept the demo crew busy for several days, is part of the larger Flint River Restoration Project. The removal of the 218-foot concrete dam was made possible by a grant awarded to Genesee County Parks in 2017 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Dam Management.
Over the past 18 months, a steady hum of excitement has emanated from the Capitol Theatre building. The mystery of the renovations and when it would open remained behind the wall of glass doors, keeping the community wondering.
The Ferris Wheel, a building renovated to welcome visitors with a revolving door, celebrates a turnaround; the investment in people and ideas, in hope for the continuous revitalization of Downtown Flint. The Ferris Wheel and 100k Ideas plans to operate as a resource for any community member to take their rough “napkin-sketch” concept and develop it into a workable, marketable venture.
So much is going on Downtown, we decided to offer you updates on three significant projects that will provide members of the Greater Flint community with enhanced access to the arts, as well as resources for pursuit of entrepreneurial endeavors.
