Larry Bell to Transform Downtown Property Into Private Research Library and Cultural Venue
*The former Food Dance Café on Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo could become a new cultural destination thanks to plans backed by Bell's Brewery founder Larry Bell.*
An application has been submitted to the Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals on behalf of the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation to renovate the property at 401 E. Michigan Ave. The project would transform the existing building into a gallery and event space with a new multi-story addition.
"This will be our gallery space, but also have event space in it, a gallery for African and indigenous artwork and a gift shop," said Larry Bell, president of the foundation.
Plans call for removing the existing parking lot and constructing a multi-story addition connected to the current structure. The addition would house a library archives, a 200-seat auditorium, and a courtyard for outdoor gatherings between the buildings.
"We're going to build a new building, several stories high, that'll include our library archives, a 200-seat auditorium," Bell said.
The site is located near Bell's Eccentric Cafe, which Bell previously owned. Bell said he hopes the project contributes to downtown activity.
"This facility can be here for something for people to do, and help drive business, and just make downtown flourish a little bit more," Bell said.
Bobby Durkee, Assistant City Planner for the City of Kalamazoo, explained that the request before the zoning board is related to design standards rather than the project's use.
"When you build a building, one door every 60 feet is required," said Durkee. "In this case, it's seeking relief from the zoning code for the number of doors."
The proposal also includes off-street parking and a loading area. The application seeks to accommodate the design requirements while creating a new cultural hub for the downtown area.
The Larry J. Bell Library Foundation application is before the Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals for review.