You may have heard the hub-bub. 1515 Broadway, the black-box theatre space that has been used by so many local theatres for both rehearsal space and productions, would be closed unless the foreclosure and eviction by Citibank could be stopped. (Read the Encore Michigan article here.)
Odds are, if you’ve been a fan of any of these theatre companies, you’ve visited the 1515 performance space:
- Breathe Art Theater Project
- Plowshares Theater
- Matrix Theater
- Loft Productions
- Magenta Giraffe Theater
- Theater Grotusco
- African American Studio Theater
- The Treehouse Players
- Planet Four Films and The Actor’s Workshop
Maybe you caught the founders of the Ringwald Theater at 1515, when they were getting started. Or maybe you just grabbed a quick latte before going to the Opera House.
For 25 years, the owner and proprietor of 1515, Chris Jaszczak, operated the multi-use theatre to facilitate the performing arts among diverse Detroiters. It’s a theater, café, studio, coffee house, sound stage, bodega and meeting hall. It became a salon where Detroiters could interact in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Mr. Jaszczak lives above the theatre and has used his personal funds to keep this community space alive and functioning. However, as with many Michiganders, in 2008 he encountered financial hardship. As a result, he fell behind on the payments and 1515 Broadway was placed in foreclosure. When Mr.Jaszczak’s income recovered, he made an offer to Citi Bank to pay down the arrearages if they would restore his mortgage at a standard interest rate.
Supporters were quick to point out that Citi – which received tens of billions of dollars in federal taxpayer bailouts on express condition that they aid borrowers – would rather destroy a community institution than deal equitably with Mr. Jaszczak. And they had planned a press event and rally to raise additional support and convince Citi Bank to play ball.
An email from Bonnie Haloran made it official. The coffee house and community center is no longer under the threat of foreclosure and eviction. In response to tremendous pressure from the community, Citgroup has reached an agreement with Chris Jaszczak that will keep 1515 Broadway alive and functioning under his control and ownership.
Organizers thank all those who called and emailed Citigroup expressing their determination to keep this unique community center open and demanding that the eviction be stopped. The community support mobilized by Moratorium NOW!, People Before Banks, Occupy Detroit, and Occupy Our Homes was key to saving 1515.1515 Broadway. In response to tremendous pressure from the community, Citgroup has reached an agreement with Chris Jaszczak that will keep 1515 Broadway alive and functioning under his control and ownership. (You can read the announcment on their Facebook page.)
The Rally scheduled for this Thursday will now be a community gathering to celebrate this victory and the fact that 1515 Broadway will continue to serve as a community space. The press conference has been canceled.
Congratulations to the organizers and supporters. To find out more about this charming Detroit treasure, attend Thursday’s gathering at 6:00 p.m.
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