Cityscape

Urban Consulate, Midtown Discussion Series, Loses Lease -- But Not Hope

July 13, 2018, 6:45 PM


David Mackenzie House on Wayne State's campus. (GNU license)

The Urban Consulate, a series of discussion events -- a salon, if you will -- has been one of Detroit's better-kept secrets in its two years of existence.

Several times a month, it invites speakers to explore various aspects of Detroit life in the intimate parlor space of the David Mackenzie House on Cass Avenue.

However, the house will be moved soon to make room for an expanded Hilberry Theatre, and Urban Consulate's lease is up at the end of this month.

No word yet on where Urban Consulate will relocate, and it's fair to say staff is not pleased. Their last event at the site will be July 18, "Preserving Space for the Culture," from 6-8 p.m. (Admission is free, but seating is limited, so if you want to go, indicate that on the event's Facebook page.

In the meantime, Consulate team members met for a recorded conversation last month about the Mackenzie house, their work, cities in general and other interesting things. Model D provides an account:

Chase Cantrell: Think of towns like Trenton where the coal processing plant is about to be closed. Or coal mining towns in West Virginia. There are really poor white cities that also need saving.

Lauren Hood: What is it about the black city that makes it so enticing? I read all the websites, all the think-tank articles about development. I'm never reading about some new project in Trenton. What is the sexy that makes the inner-city black neighborhood the place to go get your savior on?

Orlando Bailey: I think we are the curators of American culture.

Lauren: Say it again!

Orlando: I think black culture dominates American culture. We attract these saviors. And I think that sometimes the intentions are good. I think what makes a place cool should have lasting ability. But when this revitalization comes, what made the place cool, the people that made the place cool, they're the most vulnerable.

There's also an amusing exchange about cruising on Jefferson on Friday or Saturday night. Worth a read. 


Read more:  Model D


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