Detroit Mayor Bing Changes His Mind About Moving into the Manoogian Mansion

BY CASSANDRA SPRATLING
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER The folks in the historic Berry subdivision of Detroit are getting new neighbors. Mayor Dave Bing and his wife, Yvette, are moving in to the city's most famous house -- the Manoogian Mansion. Early next week, the Bings are expected to relocate from a rented condo on the city's east side to the storied 82-year-old mansion, which has been undergoing renovations since May. Bing made a campaign promise that he would not live in Detroit's official residence, which has an annual city-fueled budget of $150,000. At one point, the mayor suggested that the mansion might be used as a revenue generator for the city. But on Thursday, Bing said he was persuaded to move largely by Detroiters who want to buff the tarnished image of the mansion -- the site of a rumored, but never proved, wild party that embroiled former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in controversy. The move makes financial sense, the mayor said. "I'm renting a home in Detroit and I'm not getting a salary," said Bing, who said he plans to pay all moving costs. "I don't have a problem with not getting a salary, but I don't think I should pay to be mayor." Hopes are high for mansion The lower level is freshly painted in shades of beige -- tropical tan, chocolate froth and cliff rock. Recessed lighting brightens the spacious living room. Old windows have been replaced with more energy-efficient models. And there's a new heating and air-conditioning system in the house most people know as the Manoogian Mansion at 9240 Dwight St. in the historic Joseph Berry subdivision on Detroit's east side. This house has been the official residence of the mayor of Detroit, and come next week, the Bings will continue the tradition by moving in. Along with the fresh paint and new decor, the Manoogian may also get a new name -- the Mayor's Residence. "There are some legal matters to work out, but for all intents and purposes, (the new name is) happening as we speak," said Eugene Gargaro, chairman of the Manoogian Mansion Society, a nonprofit organization founded to help the city restore, furnish and preserve the mansion.  Gargaro said the new name would better reflect the home's purpose Under renovation The mansion has been under renovation since May -- not just because the Bings are moving in, but also because fans of the home want it restored to its former glory. The mansion's most recent residents, former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his family, moved out nearly two years ago. Since then, the mansion started to decline after sitting vacant. "The house was a mess," said Pamela Moore, executive assistant to Bing and administrator for the Manoogian. The mayor's presence in the mansion will benefit the structure and the city, Bing and his supporters say. "When nobody lives in a house, it falls into disrepair," said Leslie Falls Salgado, an interior designer who is a consultant for the Manoogian Mansion Society. "There was no upkeep because nobody was living there. It's the Manoogian family's wish that somebody lives in that residence," Salgado said. "Alex Manoogian wanted it to become a legacy to the city." Those kinds of concerns prompted Bing to move in. He said Thursday: "You can't have an asset like that and allow it to go south. Ultimately, it would cost you more to bring it up to where it should be." About the house The 4,004-square-foot house on the Detroit River was given as a gift to the City of Detroit in 1965 by entrepreneur Alex Manoogian. The family of every presiding mayor since then has lived in it, except Ken Cockrel Jr., who served briefly as the city's mayor from September 2008 to May 2009. "The focus has been on the preservation and restoration of the house and making it more energy efficient," said Salgado, who worked on various projects at the house since 1994. Moore said about 95% of the cost of the renovation and its furnishings have been donated. However, neither she nor Salgado would release the budget for the renovation. Salgado said the interior has been transformed from a more contemporary style dominated by bright, rich colors to a more classic and timeless look with a palette of neutral tones. "It's a beautiful old home that deserves to be restored and without the donations, we would not have been able to reopen it," Moore said. "This is one of the city's assets we feel strongly about keeping and maintaining. It's important to this city. This is a historic house in a historic community." New residents Bing and his wife still own a house in Franklin. The couple currently rent a condo on the city's east side. The Manoogian has 15 rooms and a cabana, a boathouse and pool in the back. The spacious grounds out back offer a panoramic view of the Detroit River. The Bings will live on the second level of the mansion, while the first floor and grounds will be open for occasional public functions. Requests for public use of the mansion will be considered on a case-by-case basis, Moore said. The first event at the renovated house will be held Sept. 15. Those with a $2,500 ticket to the annual fund-raising gala at the Detroit Institute of Arts will receive entry to a cocktail reception at the Manoogian as a prelude. Easing neighborhood fears Terry Campbell, president of the Berry Subdivision Association, who lives across the street from the Manoogian, said she is relieved that the mayor is moving in. Bing's campaign talk about turning the Manoogian into some kind of public venue had worried many of the neighborhood residents, she said. "Whenever there's an event there, we always had a traffic nightmare," she said. "The streets are small, and we don't have enough parking." She said she's hopeful that the mayor's presence will add civility to a troubled city park located across the street from her and next door to the Manoogian. "I'm looking forward to meeting the Bings," she said. "I'm hoping they're reasonable people, and their presence will add a little calmness and order to that park." Contact CASSANDRA SPRATLING: 313-223-4580 or spratling @freepress.com