Life

The Armory Arts Village - Jackson’s Creative Catalyst

The Armory Arts Village is a bold, innovative community redevelopment project that uses arts, culture, creativity and innovation as a catalyst for reinventing the community of Jackson and the surrounding region. The effort is spearheaded by The Enterprise Group and is located on the historic site of the original 19th century Jackson State Prison. The 19-acre site includes several notable prison buildings, a stunning 25ft. high turreted stone wall around the perimeter of the property and a vacant industrial complex to the South. Through a combination of adaptive reuse of the classic prison buildings and the creation of compatible new construction on the site, this unique place is being transformed into a one-of-a-kind creativity-focused mixed-use neighborhood.

The activities in this neighborhood are focused primarily on arts, creativity and innovation to attract artistic entrepreneurs, increase small business start-ups, create jobs, and attract new businesses, residents and visitors from around the state and beyond. The Armory Arts Village is designed to serve as a catalyst for community revitalization and an engine for economic growth.

The Armory Arts Village is divided into phases, the first being the Core Project - the development of the Armory Artswalk Apartments. These apartments feature affordable live/work space tailored to meet the needs of emerging artists, musicians, designers, craftsmen and other creatives with the passion and commitment to turn their creativity into micro-enterprises, small businesses and other entrepreneurial ventures.

 

Armory Arts Village - Phase One

Armory Artswalk Apartments - Adaptive Reuse of three Historic Prison Buildings to provide affordable living and working space for Income-qualified Artist Entrepreneurs

Physical Components

Artist Entrepreneurship Programs

Professional development programs to provide residents with the knowledge and skills to function as successful artist entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Application Timeline, Process & Materials:

Armory Artswalk Apartments opened January 2008. These residential units are kept affordable by funding that requires residents to meet income qualifications. Confirmation of income is required within ninety days of move-in. Spaces are limited, so interested applicants are strongly encouraged to pre-apply. Names of applicants who pre-apply and meet income qualifications will be added to an official pre-qualified list. All qualified applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Application materials are available now and can be found here. Armory Artswalk Apartments will be professionally managed by Keystone Management Group. Equal Housing Opportunity laws apply.

 

Components of Future Phases

1) Armory Arts Commons: Townhouse-Style Mixed-Income Apartments - New Construction of 88 units

3) Adaptive Reuse of Historic Prison Mess Hall

Physical Components - Adaptive Reuse of Historic Prison Mess Hall

Programmatic Components

4) Additional Developments Include a Mix of Newly Constructed Retail & Professional Office Buildings

5) Development of Common Areas on Historic Prison Property including:

6) Parking, Green Space and Historic Industrial Leg of the Grand River ArtsWalk

The former Acme Industries property will be redeveloped as parking, green space and an industrial leg of the Grand River ArtsWalk that will connect Armory Arts Village to the campus of the new Consumers Energy Headquarters located four blocks away in the heart of downtown Jackson. The ArtsWalk, which will follow the banks of the Grand River, will feature design-oriented pedestrian greenway enhanced by the incorporation of a wide range of public art, some of which commemorates the history of manufacturing companies originally located along this stretch of the river. The parking planned for the Acme Industries property is required to meet the needs of Phase II of the Armory Arts Village development as described above.