S#!*'s getting real [for real] - The Kintsugi Village

Alright, friends—it’s happening. After months of scheming, dreaming, and meticulous planning, we are officially kicking off the restoration of the old St. Vincent’s school property in Corktown!

We’ve been deep in the trenches with our amazing partners at JLL, Neumann Smith, and Sachse Construction, and guess what? Demolition has already started! (Don’t worry—it’s the good kind of demolition.) Check out some of the early photos below and watch as we begin this transformation. Just like the art of Kintsugi, we’re all about taking something with history, giving it love, and making it even more beautiful in the process.

So, what exactly are we building? A vibrant community hub that’s got a little something for everyone:

An early childhood education center (for the tiny humans, ages 3-5)
An artist incubator (because creativity deserves space!)
A retreat center for local businesses and community groups.
An event space (big things happening here!).
A culinary/teaching kitchen (food brings people together, right?)
A community garden & greenhouse (for the green thumbs and the wannabes)
Public spaces for local families to gather, play, and just be.

And because no big moment is complete without a proper celebration, we’re throwing a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, March 12th at 10:30 AM! There will be speeches, there will be shovels, and there will be Mayor Duggan (plus a few other special guests).

A couple of our neighbors are sponsoring some really good snacks, donuts and coffee and they are Folk Detroit + Yellow Light Donuts. We’re so lucky to have neighbors like them.

If you’re in the area, come celebrate with us!

Speaking of community—you know we love hearing from you! We’re hosting our next community/resident feedback session on Wednesday, February 26th, at 6 PM at UFO Bar in Corktown. Think of it as a casual hang with free drinks, snacks and a chance to chime in on what we’re building. We’re all ears and can’t wait to share updates with you!

Oh, and here’s some extra exciting news: we’re teaming up with local artist Freddy Diaz to create a stunning mural on the main wall of Kintsugi Village! Freddy has deep roots in our community, and we can’t wait to share some early design sketches soon. Stay tuned!

Want to follow along as we turn this vision into reality? Keep up with our progress on social media and feel free to drop us a note at hello@kintsugivillage.org. We love hearing from you!

Let’s build something beautiful together. 💛