Crooked Tree & TADL Submit Dueling Proposals for Carnegie Building

In addition to two proposals for the Bijou by the Bay/Con Foster Building, Traverse City commissioners will consider two proposals at their March 16 meeting for the Carnegie Building on Sixth Street. Both applicants have deep ties to the property: Crooked Tree Arts Center has occupied the building for over a decade, while Traverse Area District Library was its steward for almost a century until moving to Woodmere Avenue in 1999.

With Crooked Tree’s lease up in October and TADL expressing interest in the property, city commissioners opted to use a request-for-proposals (RFP) process to provide transparency and fairness in evaluating tenants. Crooked Tree and TADL were the only respondents to the RFP before a February deadline. As with applicants for the Bijou, the two organizations were asked to address criteria including community benefit and engagement, accessibility and environmental stewardship, and financial sustainability.

Proposal 1: Crooked Tree Arts Center
The Concept: Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) moved into the Carnegie Building in 2015, adding a second campus in Traverse City to its location in Petoskey. That move expanded the nonprofit’s reach to 12 counties, “more than doubling opportunities for artists to engage through exhibitions, teaching, sales, and professional development,” according to the proposal.

CTAC now has more than 2,000 members across the state and serves over 55,000 people annually. In Traverse City, the organization annually averages an estimated 29,400 visitors and participants, 30 instructors, 500+ artists, over 200 classes, two art fairs, and the annual plein air painting festival Paint Grand Traverse. CTAC is seeking to continue that mission and programming, with possible expanded classroom space in the lower level to provide additional activities.

The sudden threat of the end of Crooked Tree’s lease after previous uncontested renewals has been disruptive for the organization, acknowledges Managing Director Kristi Wodek. There’s “a lot of job insecurity” for the three full-time staff and one part-time employee, she says, in addition to having to halt all long-term grant planning and programming until CTAC knows whether it will have a home beyond October. Crooked Tree has scouted other locations as a backup but hasn’t yet found a suitable alternate site, Wodek says.

Community Benefit/Engagement: Wodek points to CTAC’s economic impact, including distributing over $30,000 in community scholarships/cash awards and nearly $140,000 to artists in faculty stipends, art sales, and awards last year. The building is publicly accessible at no cost, and Wodek says visitors and class attendees often shop or go to dinner downtown before and after events. “Taken together, CTAC is more than a gallery or classroom: It is a community resource and civic asset,” the proposal states. “We provide space, opportunity, access, and connection which supports artists financially, serves residents consistently, and ensures the arts remain viable, inclusive, and deeply embedded in the life of Traverse City and the surrounding region.”

Accessibility & Environmental Stewardship: CTAC points to its diverse age range of guests and educational accessibility, including free monthly drop-in art, $5 preschool classes, and scholarships to help affordability. CTAC served 1,763 education participants last year, an increase from 1,265 students in 2023 and 729 in 2022. For stewardship, “CTAC prioritizes sustainable practices, especially in areas most under our control such as waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation, and education,” the proposal states.

Financial Sustainability: CTAC’s current lease, which was recently increased at the end of 2024, is $55,000 annually. Crooked Tree proposes to continue paying that rate under a new agreement. The organization has “maintained a consistent record of timely rent payments, full compliance with lease obligations, and uninterrupted operations, including through periods of rent adjustment,” the proposal states. CTAC said it remains fiscally strong with a “diversified funding model that balances earned revenue with contributed support,” reducing “reliance on any single revenue source.”

Proposal 2: Traverse Area District Library
The Concept: TADL hopes to return to its former home on Sixth Street with the goal of opening a new community center. TADL is running out of space on Woodmere for its history print collection, while the Carnegie Building currently houses the city’s extensive Con Foster collection. “Uniting those collections again and making them available in one of the most historic buildings in our community made sense to us,” Library Director Michele Howard says. “It also frees up space in the main library.”

Howard says TADL’s proposal “reads a little bit differently” because the library isn’t proposing to be a tenant – it wants to partner with the city. TADL would provide curation and caretaking not only for its own materials but the city’s, launching a special collections library and city museum. “The Con Foster Museum Collection would be professionally cared for, interpreted, and made available to the public,” the proposal states. “The building would offer regular open hours, community-driven programming, meeting and study spaces, and quiet research areas.”

Howard says TADL “completely recognizes Crooked Tree’s value,” acknowledging the tension in potentially displacing another nonprofit. However, TADL has “long ties to that building that no other organization has,” she says. “It was built for the library, and the library was its steward until 1998.”

Community Benefit/Engagement: TADL proposes to collaborate with community groups “while offering opportunities for residents to shape content through oral histories, exhibitions, and development lab projects.” TADL would relaunch the Grand Traverse Journal and offer free public WiFi in and around the building. A library book pickup/drop-off return point and programming for school and summer camp visits are also proposed.

Accessibility & Environmental Stewardship: TADL says all programs, services, and events will be free and open to the public, “ensuring equitable access regardless of income.” It points to its achievement in 2024 of become a Certified Autism Center and commitment to “fostering social inclusivity in every aspect of its operations.” TADL incorporates “environmentally responsible practices, including energy-conscious operations, waste reduction, and support for ecological initiatives” in its operations and will promote recycling protocols.

Financial Sustainability: TADL is a “financially stable municipal institution” 90 percent funded by a 2024 millage. That’s good for 10 years of operating funds, the proposal states. Because of the value TADL believes it’s offering, it wants to negotiate on rent. Howard points to agreements TADL has with entities like the Village of Kingsley or East Bay Township, where the library pays utilities and associated other costs.

“What’s unique is the value we bring in our services and expertise,” Howard says, pointing to grant-writing as another benefit. “We don’t just want to rent the space. We’re not asking for the building for free, but we can help the city with something (the Con Foster collection) they’ve been wrestling with for 15 years. We have the staff trained in handling that. It just depends on if the city wants that partnership. We really hope they do.”

City commissioners are likely to address costs with either proposal. Because of its age, the Carnegie Building faces unique and costly maintenance issues. While the city is ultimately responsible for upkeep as the owner, maintenance is likely to be addressed in any operating agreement. Commissioners had hoped to see lease agreements that would cover building expenses. The city’s RFP states an expected rent of $95,000, but neither applicant offered that amount. While commissioners could choose a proposal on March 16, they could also delay a decision if they need more information or time for further evaluation.