5 places to experience ballet in Michigan
You can immerse yourself in the art of ballet at these five Michigan venues.
- Music Hall is planning a new entertainment complex in downtown Detroit
- Detroit City Council has approved $166 in bonds to be issued the the EDC
An ambitious expansion of the historic Orsa Music Hall is a signature away following the Detroit City Council’s approval of a $166 million bonds package Tuesday, April 21.
The resolution now sits at the desk of Mayor Mary Sheffield, who has previously signaled support for the project.
Presuming Sheffield signs off, groundbreaking is expected to take place July 17, venue president Vince Paul told the Free Press. Opening is targeted for October 2028, he said.
The bonds, covering most of the expansion project’s $174 million total budget, would be issued by the Economic Development Corp. The EDC board could meet as early as next week for final authorization, said Rebecca Navin, general counsel for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. (DEGC).
“We’re really excited for the project. It’s been a long time coming,” said Navin. “Music Hall is obviously a really important institution in the city and we think this addition — especially to the entertainment district — will be instrumental in revitalizing that corner of Paradise Valley downtown.”
The expansion proposal, announced in 2023, calls for a seven-level, 108,000-square-foot complex adjacent to the existing Orsa Music Hall on Madison Avenue.
Plans include a concert venue, music academy, recital hall, recording facilities, a nightclub terrace and a Detroit music-themed restaurant along with a “walk of fame”-style alleyway recognizing hometown music greats.
Design is being spearheaded by acclaimed architect Tod Williams, a Detroit native whose recent work has included redesign of New York’s David Geffen Hall and engineering of Chicago’s Obama Presidential Center.
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, which opened as the Wilson Theater in 1928, offers a regular schedule of concert, dance and theater programming at its 1,700-seat theater. The nonprofit institution took on the Orsa name in January as part of a 20-year, $25 million deal with Plymouth-based Orsa Credit Union.
This is Music Hall’s second go-round with expansion funding: In 2024, the City of Detroit greenlit an initial $80 million bonds plan, but the financing arrangement was subsequently revamped by Music Hall, prompting a reboot of the process.
The $166 million resolution approved Tuesday involves not-for-profit bonds — formally known as non-credit enhanced securities — which means neither Detroit taxpayers nor the EDC will be responsible for the debt. Music Hall will be tasked with locking in investors, and the institution itself will act as collateral.
Paul, who has served as Music Hall president since 2006, said about 30% of the financing will be underwritten by the New York firm Siebert Williams Shank, co-founded by Detroiter Suzanne Shank.
Music Hall and its trustees, led by chairman Alex Parrish, will also embark on a capital fundraising campaign, seeking investment from companies and foundations as the project moves ahead.
“We’ve kept our powder dry. We know how many false starts have happened in Detroit,” Paul said. “So we weren’t even going to fundraise until everything was confirmed.”
The DEGC’s Navin touted the Music Hall expansion as a crucial next step in the revitalization of the Paradise Valley district, celebrated as a historic hub for Black Detroit music and culture in the mid-20th century.
“We’re hopeful it will further catalyze the investments we’ve made in the area with other small business owners and small developers,” she said.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or [email protected].
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.freep.com ’
