City Slang

        
Tweet

Email

Print
Share

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

City Slang

Crowdfunding campaign launched to fix Grande Ballroom roof

Posted By Lee DeVito on Wed, Oct 9, 2019 at 3:43 PM

click to enlarge

Friends of the Grande's Leo Early at the Grande Ballroom. - FRIENDS OF THE GRANDE BALLROOM

Friends of the Grande Ballroom
Friends of the Grande's Leo Early at the Grande Ballroom.

Last year, an inspection crowdfunded by a preservation group revealed that Detroit's historic 1960s rock 'n' roll venue, the Grande Ballroom, was structurally sound — and revived hope that the storied venue could one day return to "kick out the jams."

However, the Friends of the Grande is now once again soliciting donations, this time to do an emergency repair on the roof. The group is trying to raise $20,000 after one of three flagpole-bearing roof peaks collapsed earlier this year.

Related Structural inspection reveals Detroit’s historic Grande Ballroom holds promise for restoration

CHMBC Deacon Hudson, Contractor Ellis and F.O.G. Team Lead Early

Structural inspection reveals Detroit’s historic Grande Ballroom holds promise for restoration

By Jerilyn Jordan

City Slang

Here's a drone shot of the damage:

click to enlarge

Friends of the Grande Ballroom

From the crowdfunding page:

Although our 2018 structural engineering inspection reported a robust interior structure, certain roofing elements continue to be the Ballroom’s “Achilles' heel”. Rain and Mother Nature continue their attempt to drag the Grande back into the Earth. This year the building suffered the collapse of one of three flag pole bearing roof peaks. These peaks are the only structures on the roof with a wooden infrastructure and the loss/theft of their Spanish tiles is causing them to rot and fail.

The peak collapse has opened the main staircase to the sky and the elements. Though the Grande has a superior reinforced concrete core, the freeze-thaw cycle and glacier-thick ice on the stairs could cause their failure this winter [...] Should the staircase collapse, it could bring down the entire northeast corner of the building. Rainwater has begun to impede and eliminate direct access to the ballroom floor of the building permanently. Your donations are needed for tarping and a roof peak replacement immediately.

Friends of the Grande's Leo Early calls the repair a "Strategic Stabilization" measure.

"While not a complete solution and dependent on final estimates, we can stabilize up to 25% of the roof," he writes. "This would be a milestone start, potentially kicking off a series of fundraisers and other funding opportunities. A successful construction project will resolve the immediate problem while raising the profile of the building’s importance and legitimacy significantly."

click to enlarge

Artist Gabe Gault painted an MC5 mural at the Grande Ballroom. - ZAK WARMANN

Zak Warmann
Artist Gabe Gault painted an MC5 mural at the Grande Ballroom.

Though the building is sporting a mural from artist Gabe Gault celebrating the 50th anniversary of MC5's influential 1969 debut, Kick Out the Jams, it's unlikely the venue will return to its storied days of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll. The Friends of the Grande are working with Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church, the building's new owner, on the repairs of the building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year.

Related Wayne Kramer on 50 years of the MC5

Wayne Kramer on 50 years of the MC5

By Brett Callwood

Local Music

Early previously told Metro Times that it's likely the bottom floors of the building will return to their original intent as retail space. The upper level, where the ballroom was, would be used as an events space by the church.

He said the church had not ruled out the possibility of renting the space out for concerts.

Stay on top of Detroit news and views. Sign up for our weekly issue newsletter delivered each Wednesday.

Tags: Grande Ballroom, Friends of the Grande, MC5, Kick Out the Jams, Detroit, Image

We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.

Email us at letters@metrotimes.com.

Support Local Journalism.
Join the Detroit Metro Times Press Club

Local journalism is information. Information is power. And we believe everyone deserves access to accurate independent coverage of their community and state. Our readers helped us continue this coverage in 2020, and we are so grateful for the support.

Help us keep this coverage going in 2021. Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing membership pledge, your support goes to local-based reporting from our small but mighty team.

Join the Metro Times Press Club for as little as $5 a month.