A building at the corner of Grand River and Vinewood known for its colorful artwork and part of the Dabls Mbad African Bead Museum has turned to rubble and dust. 

Despite attempts to save the building by museum founder Olayami Dabls and his team, city crews arrived at the site Tuesday morning and began tearing down the property. 

Dabls told BridgeDetroit he wasn’t surprised the building ended up getting demolished. 

“Twenty-five years is a long time to be doing what we’re doing,” Dabls said while sitting outside of his museum Tuesday afternoon. 

He looked resigned by the recent events, but hopeful. 

“An African bead museum was a new concept in Detroit and we pulled it off. We just lost one building,” he said.

Last week, Dabls appeared in a virtual hearing for the city’s Department of Appeals and Hearings after he filed an appeal to have the demolition paused. A protest was also organized by artist Bryce Detroit.

But the department notified Dabls Monday evening that the building was going to be demolished anyway. 

According to the case order, the city deemed the building, which had partially collapsed, dangerous. 

“While the artistry and potential renovation of 6559 W. Grand River were expressed by the claimant, the claimant stated their inability to make the necessary renovations or confirm the funds for necessary renovations,” Hearing Officer Joilynn Hunt said in the document. 

Cultural preservationist Leslie Tom said after the Monday notification, she, Dabls and his daughter, Alake Williams, scrambled to file an injunction with lawyers who were helping them pro bono. But by Tuesday morning, the city had already started the demolition. 

“This whole project, we were having to react to all of these very high pressure deadlines,” she said.

The outcome, Tom added, was “disappointing because we pulled together a very professional packet with a stabilization plan.” 

Dabls said the rules throughout the process weren’t clear, leaving the team frustrated. 

“The odds were against us since we didn’t have legal representation,” he said. “They (Department of Appeals and Hearings) weren’t listening to what we have to say.”

David Bell, director of Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department, said due process was provided ahead of the demolition and “we look forward to what has been a longtime partnership with Dabls,” noting the artist has been commissioned by the city for years.

“Currently, Dabls is part of the $5.4-million ARPA Arts Alley Project. We are a city that is committed to preserving art forms but not at the risk of public health and safety,” Bell said. “We will continue to work with this iconic artist as we always have and will await plans for proposed projects on the site.”

Bell reiterated that the building torn down was separate from the museum, which was not affected by Tuesday’s demolition.

A Detroit artist who goes by the name Rocketman has been visiting the museum for years and helped Dabls with his sculpture garden. He said the institution brings people from all over the world. 

“It’s a global embarrassment to our people, our city and our legacy for leadership to do anything short of preserving this space ,” Rocketman said. 

Tom noted Dabls’ long-time presence in Detroit as an artist, which has included honors like the 2022 Kresge Eminent Artist Award and a 2011 Kresge Artist Fellowship in visual arts.

“I feel like the value of art in cities is just not respected,” she said.

Tanya Stephens, a cultural preservationist and board member at Preservation Detroit, said city officials should prioritize preservation and have consideration for artists who have dedicated their lives to beautifying Detroit.

“I hope this is a wake up call for the city of Detroit administration that we have culturally significant places and historic sites in the city that need to be protected, that represents the African descendants that live in Detroit, an 80% Black city,” she said. “That building was symbolic and represented our community, which is why so many people rallied around it and came out last week to protect it.” 

Dabls is now focused on the future and the prospect of a brand new building. Dabls said he will keep a GoFundMe page he created last month in attempts to renovate the old building. His plans for both spaces will remain the same–to create a museum alongside the existing retail store, gallery and sculpture garden.

“We’re going to get some grants and rebuild,” he said.