Detroit, MI

Fate of Detroit bead museum building awaits ruling

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Fate of Detroit bead museum building awaits ruling

Detroit — The fate of a bejeweled building by Detroit’s African Bead Museum remains is in limbo awaiting a decision on demolition or the chance to turn it into a gallery on the city’s northwest side.

Building 101, located at 6559 Grand River Ave., showcases artwork by Olayami Dabls, who founded the MBAD African Bead Museum. The art is embedded in the brick but the building is in “a state of significant collapse” after the roof and floor caved in, city inspectors said.

The building’s future was debated for three hours during an administrative hearing before the Department of Appeals on Wednesday. Hearing Officer Joilynn Hunt said she would issue a ruling within five days.

During the hearing, the city presented three building inspectors and a project manager who flew a drone over the building. The inspectors noted the building is open to trespassing at the rear, there’s a collapsed roof, and interior walls and floors. Inspectors testified they also observed a slightly leaning façade that could fall over onto the sidewalk.

“Exterior walls are standing as an empty shell,” said Nabil Jaafar, a city inspector of dangerous buildings. “The building has lost the roof and floors. The exterior walls become structurally unsound and unstable without any support. Being open to the elements can cause further deterioration and you’re going to end up with either total or partial collapse. The corner of Grand River and Vinewood Street is a particular concern as it is near apartments, a school and a church.”

The building was inspected in September and May, when officials noted that Dabls invited inspectors to review the building in its entirety.

Bryce Anderson Small, known professionally as Bryce Detroit who is a member of the museum, assisted Dabls in representation at the hearing saying they are excited and proud that they have been organizing a plan to remedy the site.

“We submitted an appeal to have the demolition order stopped because there’s a plan for how this building is to be stabilized and renovated into an actual museum. We have a structural engineer to show the absolute viability of our immediate solution and a letter of our fiscal sponsor and funds committed to support the necessary step forward,” Small said.

Still, the city argues that the building is in dire shape with numerous violations and needs to be demolished to protect residents.

“The fact that this is an art installation is not relevant to this building being a danger to the community,” said city attorney Lorinda Lindsay.

The bead museum, which opened 31 years ago, is known for its unique exterior, featuring a large, colorful mural includes beads, African symbols, artwork and jagged mirrors that cover the building. Dabls said he uses mirrors because they give people a chance to look at themselves in perhaps a way they never have.

Since 1998, the museum has drawn thousands of visitors from around the world. But Dabls never got around to opening the museum in the building. He has a retail shop in the next building. The centerpiece of the museum’s campus is a sculpture garden with 18 installations, all conceived and created by Dabls.

In an online post earlier this month, he issued a call for help to restore the front building, but did not expect the city to be drawn to the fully collapsed roof. Within 48 hours, the city’s Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department issued an emergency demolition order for the building, which is separate from the Dabls’ retail shop and not slated for demolition.

City officials “moved so fast. I only had a week to respond to the demolition order because they said it was a safety emergency,” said Dabls on Tuesday. “I still appealed but, weirdly, they think this is an emergency when the building has been here for 25 years and has been in a state of collapse for the last 13 years.”

The demolition was delayed after Dabls quickly submitted an appeal. Notable artists and community leaders stopped by early Tuesday to show support of saving the structure, including architectural metal design artist Carlos Nielbock; Jessica Care Moore, the city’s poet laureate; and musician Audra Kubat.

“It’s his life’s work, his purpose,” Nielbock said. “That’s why we come to show support and just because they delayed it, doesn’t mean it’s time to celebrate.”

Earlier this summer, Dabls launched a GoFundMe to raise $200,000 for the first phase of renovations to the front building to create a space for African-based exhibitions and arts education programs for children and community groups.

“We’ve never had a lot of visitors, but I hope this a resurgence of something new,” Dabls said.

srahal@detroitnews.com

X: @SarahRahal_

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Detroit, MI

Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron

Published

10 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Former Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron

The Pistons have made recent moves to add more shooting, but still don’t have anyone quite as lethal as former Detroit guard Luke Kennard. On Saturday night, Kennard had a brilliant start to his postseason with 27 uber-efficient points for the Lakers in a win against the Rockets. His level of 3-point accuracy is something the Pistons have desperately been seeking all season long to bolster their offense.

Luke Kennard’s shooting makes him a dangerous playoff performer

Kennard was originally drafted to Detroit with the 17th pick of the 2017 Draft. The Pistons have plenty of draft regrets from that general era of team history, but picking Kennard has never been one of them. Despite any other weaknesses he may have, his strength as a shooter has always been enough to offset them.

In terms of pure 3-point percentage, Kennard is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He averages 44% behind the arc for his career, and shot a blistering 48% this season – the best mark in the league. Given his incredible track record, it’s not exactly a shocker to see him shoot 5-of-5 from three en route to 27 points in Game 1.

Not only is Kennard obviously an excellent standstill shooter, but he’s also a master of getting himself open with his movement. On Saturday night, he was able to play off LeBron James perfectly for a few easy looks. After that, he caught enough of a rhythm to create 3-point looks for himself, even in transition.

A player like Kennard is easily capable of turning an entire playoff game when he gets hot. In a close series, that one game where Kennard hits several threes can be all the difference his team needs to advance. If the Lakers do manage to win this series, even without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Kennard’s shooting will be a major reason why.

The Pistons could use someone like Kennard

Kennard would be a perfect marginal addition for the Pistons that only makes them better without taking anything away from the team. To be fair, the Pistons do have two shooters who have been hot recently in Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. But having more than one respected shooter on the court at a time is often necessary to maintain a solid offense in today’s NBA.

Given the Pistons’ current lack of shooting, any additional shooters are welcome. And Kennard is understandably one of the most feared shooters in the league, capable of bending defenses just by the threat of him taking a three. Rolling him out on the Pistons would surely open up more lanes for Detroit’s stars to attack the paint and score easier points.

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Detroit, MI

Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94

Published

23 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Troopers arrest Detroit woman after drive-by shooting on I-94

A Detroit woman was arrested in the aftermath of a hit-and-run collision and shooting on Interstate 94, Michigan State Police reported.

Emergency dispatchers were called shortly after midnight Saturday about the altercation. Troopers reported the caller said while they were driving eastbound on I-94, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a black Jeep sideswiped them and sped off.

The caller then decided to follow the Jeep.

In response, police said, the driver of the Jeep fired several gunshots in the caller’s direction.

None of the gunshots struck the vehicle.

Troopers were able to use license plate reader camera technology to locate the Jeep while it was on the Lodge Freeway, made a traffic stop. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without incident.

The passengers were released shortly afterwards; troopers believe that the 19-year-old driver was the shooter. She has been lodged pending further review by the prosecutor’s office.

In addition, a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.

The above video originally aired on Aug. 19, 2025.

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Detroit, MI

Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons odds for NBA playoffs Game 1 Sunday

Who is favored in the NBA playoffs odds for Game 1 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic?

Here’s what you need to know about NBA playoff betting odds for the NBA game between the No. 8 seed Magic and No. 1 seed Pistons, which is being played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

What is the point spread for the Pistons vs Magic game?

What is the moneyline for the Magic vs Pistons game?

What is the over/under (point total) for betting on the first-round NBA playoff matchup?

Watch Magic at Pistons on Peacock

Magic vs Pistons odds: What is point spread?

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Detroit Pistons are an 8.5-point favorite over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series.

Pistons vs Magic odds: What is moneyline?

BetMGM Sportsbook lists Detroit as -375 on the moneyline for the first-round NBA playoff game. It has Orlando at +290.

Magic vs Pistons odds: What is over/under?

The point total for the opening game of the NBA playoffs series between the Pistons and Magic is listed at 218.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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