In a Tuesday morning meeting of the Port Huron Downtown Development Authority, the latest incarnation of conceptual drawings for the former Art Van were presented by city manager James Freed. The new design calls for the building to be transformed into a multi-use pavilion that could play host to a farmers market and live entertainment. The building, which most recently served as an indoor used car dealership, was purchased by the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners in 2014. Since then, numerous artist renderings have been presented by both St. Clair County and the City of Port Huron regarding it’s future use. In March of 2018, Freed announced during a D.D.A. meeting a plan to transform the building into an outdoor concert venue and public market. The concept was refined in October of last year in which Freed called for an enclosed “four season marketplace” at the site of the building which would allow space for an indoor farmers market, restaurant, and brew pub. The marketplace concept would come with a $2.7 to $3.3 million price tag. The pavilion concept is expected to cost less, approximately $2.2 million. Freed says a combination of public dollars and private grants would be used in the project. The City Manager and County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jeff Bohm both tell WPHM they are in discussions about a purchase of the county-owned parcel.
