The Grosse Ile Downtown Development Authority voted to purchase the base and the sculpture “Windows” by Kelly O’Neil for $4,000 and approved an event sponsorship to support the community-sculpture unveiling, the board decided during its meeting on Aug. 27, 2025.

The decision followed a presentation from Ally, a DDA staff member, who outlined costs and options for several leased pieces whose terms are expiring. Ally said the DDA has paid a $3,000 leasing stipend toward Kelly O’Neil’s piece and that "her total value is 5,000. So you've already paid for over half of the piece." She advised that the DDA could purchase Kelly’s piece and pour a new concrete base on DDA property so the work could sit permanently on downtown property.

Why it matters: several temporary public artworks have been placed around Macomb Street over the last three years; buying selected pieces would convert leased art into permanent, owned assets while the DDA’s budget remains tight and members pressed staff to prioritize lighting and landscaping so purchased works are visible and better integrated into downtown streetscape.

During discussion, Grosse Ile DDA board member Brad Ranley said he "has a hard time voting yes for either of these purchases" without first funding lighting and landscaping. Ranley argued that purchased pieces can appear to "sit on a plain concrete slab" and that the DDA should highlight what it already has before adding more permanent works.

Supervisor Porcinelli made the motion to purchase the Kelly O’Neil piece and the base for $4,000; the motion was supported by Karn and approved by voice vote. The board also voted to approve the DDA-sponsored unveiling event for the community glass wall, with a program budget "not to exceed $1,000," a motion moved by Miss Pusak and supported by Mister Ranley.

The board took a separate vote on an untitled abstract glass panel by Wyandotte Art Glass for $2,500. That motion, put forward to place an abstract glass work in a new location, carried after a roll-call-style exchange: two members were recorded as voting no (Mister Ranley and Miss Pusak) while the motion ultimately passed.

Ally and other staff clarified costs and timing for several other sculptures discussed during the presentation. She noted that one artist (Simon) has asked for an additional $5,000 to transfer ownership (Simon is out of state and willing to negotiate payment timing), that Henry’s piece had a total stated value of $15,000 with $11,000 remaining to buy, and that the DDA could proceed in phases rather than immediately funding all purchases.

Board members and staff agreed that lighting and site finishing should be part of a longer-term plan. Ross, the DDA director, said the team could pursue a request for proposals for lighting and would consider the work during next year’s budgeting process.

The DDA’s art inventory and expenditures were discussed elsewhere in the meeting; staff reported $272,000 spent on the Art on the Isle program over three years and $141,500 in owned assets.

The board approved the purchases and the unveiling sponsorship and directed staff to continue planning installation details and to include site lighting and landscaping as priorities for future capital and budget discussions.

Members present who spoke during the art discussion included Ally (DDA staff member), Ross (DDA director), Supervisor Porcinelli, Mister Ranley, Miss Pusak, Miss Karn, Miss Armiak, Mister Jacobson and Riley (project lead/artist).