Project Description:
The Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC) renovated a building that was slated for demolition and turned it into an asset for the downtown Flint community. Currently major renovations have been made to the first floor as well as electrical and HVAC systems. The façade of the building has been completely redone and now is the benchmark for façade improvements throughout the downtown area. In addition to these completed renovations, GFAC intends on making the expansive 2nd and 3rd floors viable working areas for all those involved in the arts. The project, at a cost of $710,000, is now complete.
Background Information:
The Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to be a catalyst of, and advocate for, increased arts impact in the community. The Council strives to promote and celebrate the arts, building new partnerships and to lay foundations of cultural growth for all the arts in our community.
Most recently the Peerless Mattress Company occupied the GFAC building. Decimated by fire and slated for demolition, the GFAC renovated the historic building.
At one time the GFAC building was home to the Vernors Soda Pop Company. It is hard to find any longtime resident of Flint that has not seen the mural depicting the elves rolling barrels of Vernors Ginger Ale across a landscape. The GFAC implemented a campaign to restore the mural after its deterioration. Saving this historic building was a triumph for the Flint area.
For Additional information Contact:
Greg Fielder, Director
Greater Flint Arts Council
816 South Saginaw Street
Flint, Michigan 48502
(810) 238-6496 greg@gfac.org www.gfn.org/gfac
