Hamtramck council approves Yemen Cafe site plan, conditions approval on new mural by original artist

The Hamtramck City Council voted to approve a modified resolution allowing the site plan for property owned by the Yemen Cafe proprietors, conditioned on the owners’ agreement to commission a new mural by the original artist and to place it on the same side of the new building as the mural now.

The resolution, amended and approved at the meeting, requires the council to receive a contract that will specify the mural’s timeframe and address questions about the two lots previously referenced in a master agreement. Council members said they expect a contract to be returned to the council for final approval with specific terms.

The discussion traced to a prior “master agreement” intended to preserve an existing mural. A speaker identified in the record as an attorney told the council that “the original artist…has been contacted. He’s agreed to come back and paint a mural,” and that the artist might update the work rather than exactly replicate it. The attorney also said the plan was to place the mural on the wall of the Yemen Cafe so “people…would be able to enjoy the mural more.”

Speakers representing the property owners said the owners had purchased two lots (one from the city, one from Bill Meyer) and paid taxes on them; from the transcript, the attorney said the owners paid roughly $40,000 for the two lots and that there was not an existing requirement in the sale to develop them. One councilor noted the owners offered to pay the full cost of the new mural and to solicit donations if needed.

According to the discussion, the artist’s fee would be substantially less than typical estimates for similar work. A participant stated that “usually at this time, it costs over 100,000, but he agreed to do it for 20 to 25,000.” The council approved a conditional motion and directed staff to return with a contract clarifying the time frame for the mural and any implications tied to the lots.

Council discussion also referenced the original master agreement’s alternatives: recreate the mural or return two properties. Council members and residents pressed that the replacement mural remain on the same side of the building as the original; one speaker said repeatedly they wanted “the same face and the same side.” The owners’ representatives said they were open to the council’s wishes and that the owners would accept financial responsibility for the new mural if the resolution was approved.

The council took a vote on an amended resolution to modify the site-plan approval to include the conditional mural commitment. The vote was recorded as approved; at least one roll-call vote in the record shows Councilman Hassan voting “yes.” The amended resolution requires a contract with details to be returned to the council for final approval.

The council meeting record shows the matter will be brought back with a contract that addresses the mural timing, who will fund the work if donations fall short, and whether lot titles or transfers are part of the final agreement.

For now, the council’s approval is conditional: staff and the parties will draft a contract that encodes the mural commitment and any obligations related to the lots, to be presented for formal adoption at a future meeting.