Smartshop Relocation

In 2004, Holly Fisher, the director/owner/artist at SmartShop, was awarded a $100,000 grant as part of the Cool Cities Initiative to move the location of SmartShop to the north side of Kalamazoo. This grant was used to renovate SmartShop's new facilities.

SmartShop is a metal arts organization founded in 2002. The mission is to support, teach, practice and promote the metal arts to foster personal, interpersonal and community growth. Interns and students enjoy making art in this exciting environment.

Highlights:

• There has been expansion of Louie's Bar and also MacKenzies’ Bakery, which are located close to the project.
• Cultural activity has increased. 
• There are murals in the neighborhood that incorporate all the businesses and things going on. 
• There are three resident artists: one local, and two international artists, from Finland and Australia. 
• This project has brought in guest teachers as well as allowed for a variety of classes offered on-site.
• Kalamazoo-SmartShop: The funding provided by the Cool Cities grant in 2004 was vital to this project. With a budget of only $290,000 for building renovations, landscaping, and the like, SmartShop in its present form would not have been possible without the grant. In addition to this fact, many recognize the grant as bringing additional benefits to the community. As one interviewee phrased it, “The catalyst for energy has real value beyond the money.”
• The traffic visiting the Northside has also increased as a result of SmartShop. Activity days at SmartShop have drawn between 300 and 800 people to the neighborhood. Louie’s, a restaurant located across the street (established in 1918), is reporting an increase in sales.
• The riverfront development being spurred by the city includes housing of multiple types, the River West trailways and park, and commercial groupings. SmartShop is viewed as a vibrant contributor to the long-term plans of the city in the economic development of this target area.
• Catalyst for future development: “It is a fantastic project and it was exactly what I thought Cool Cities was trying to accomplish. . . . It is something that brings people into the neighborhood and it’s really a fantastic opportunity to start the revitalization in an area that was declining.”
• Kalamazoo reported in 2005:
  • Many organizations and individuals who participate in the Local Cool City Advisory Group (LCCAG) are involved in the SmartShop project – including the Arts Council, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Kalamazoo Public Library, City of Kalamazoo, downtown organizations, businesspeople, students, citizens, etc.; all are involved in the Cool Cities project. Participants in the LCCAG are involved in the Northeast Partners Project, which is working in the neighborhood where the Cool Cities project is located; they include the Arts Council, LISC, City of Kalamazoo, MDOT, etc.
  • The Northeast Partners Steering Committee has developed a three-year work plan for the neighborhood. The committee continues to expand its partnerships.
  • The Cool Cities project, SmartShop, retained 6 jobs.
  • Three development projects in progress will create 44 jobs.
  • $2.6 million of public investment in the neighborhood is in progress or completed.
  • $4,028,600 of private investment in the neighborhood is in progress or completed.
  • The city is in the midst of a massive revision of its zoning ordinance. This revision will include a riverfront overlay to enable new urbanism mixed-use style in the riverfront area with provisions to protect the waterfront. These zoning changes are indirectly related to the Cool Cities Initiative, as it is in the forefront of the mixed-use planned for the riverfront area. 
  • “The designation told the world what we already knew – that Kalamazoo is a cool place. It gives credence and visibility to our ongoing effort to work on cool projects, it gives us the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with other cities working to be cool, and the coordination of state programs through the Toolbox and team meetings are good steps in the right direction. AND it assisted a great project.” – Martha Aills, Special Projects Coordinator, City of Kalamazoo