The Future of Armory Arts

Just like the artists who live here, the Armory Arts Village is ever changing. Constant improvements are being made with input from the inaugural community of residents, and large-scale developments have been planned for future years. These future ‘phases’ of development look to continue the growth of, not only the Armory Arts Village, but the community appreciation for the arts as a whole.

Future Phase Components

1) Community Development Project

Proposed Armory Arts Community Theater:

• A one-of-a-kind creatively-focused neighborhood revitalization project
• Renovating a former prison mess hall into a community playhouse
• That will become the home of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• And other community cultural organizations
• Leveraging creative talent and cultural assets to spur economic growth
• Promoting small business development
• Enhancing Jackson’s quality of life

2) Armory Arts Commons: Townhouse-Style Mixed-Income Apartment Complex - New Construction of 88 residential units

3) Additional Developments to Include a Mix of Newly Constructed Retail and Professional Office Buildings

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

• Landscaped entrance to the site
• Pedestrian boulevard/gathering space
• Ornamental landscaping
• Decorative lighting
• Seating areas
• Planters
• Decorative paving
• Unified signage
• Public art incorporated into pedestrian walkways
• Information kiosk

5) 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.