Dzanc House, located in Ypsilanti, received notice that its operation would be indefinitely shut down due to zoning laws. At their meeting on Nov. 18, 2025, Ypsilanti City Council members spoke in favor of keeping the organization open as long as proper paperwork was promptly filed by Dzanc House's team.
During the at-capacity meeting, public commenters gathered in support of the literary and cultural arts hub.
Dzanc House staff said they received the notice less than a week before the scheduled shutdown date, which would have been on Nov. 19, 2025. Amanda Moore, the creative director of the organization, said the attempted shutdown was the result of current zoning laws in Ypsilanti. Staff at Dzanc House, which is located in the zoning district Core Neighborhood Mid, were told that they were running a commercial arts and crafts studio — a title that is illegal in that district under Section 122 in the Ypsilanti Code of Ordinances.
Dzanc House, first founded in April of 2024 by Steve Gillis, acts as a community hub for culture and arts in Ypsilanti. Alongside this, the space offers residencies for artists, poets and writers.
"We serve as a small gathering place, something especially meaningful when communities are so often being torn apart," said Shanna Gasperson, Dzanc House's programming coordinator. "People would lose a vital community resource and space to gather in celebration of local art. Children would lose out of programming meant to empower and uplift them."
Since its founding, Dzanc House has offered Ypsilanti residents and the greater Washtenaw County community free and low-cost art-driven workshop opportunities, allowing those from all walks of life to try out a variety of creative media.
Megan Foldenauer, owner of the Ypsilanti Art Supply in Ypsilanti, pushed City Council to reassess the city's decision to shut down Dzanc House, citing the impact it has had on the community.
"She [Amanda Moore] has created unbelievably thoughtful programming across all the arts for marginalized communities and marginalized issues," Foldenauer said.
Supporters of Dzanc House expressed their concern with the timeframe in which the group was informed that operations would be shut down, with some stating that the week that staff had been given was not enough time to prepare or challenge the decision. Supporters also criticized the terminology used in reference to the zoning issue.
"It should be embarrassing to call a local community institution an illegal arts and crafts studio," Levi Hubble said. "I really hope that something can be done to prevent this from happening again in the future."
Amber Fellows, a current member of the Ypsilanti City Council, offered their support to Dzanc House, stating that the city itself creates difficulties for community members to access necessary resources.
"When there isn't a need being met in the community through government agencies and the community comes together to do service provisions, we not only don't support the service provider, but we are coming in to enact barriers to those services," Fellows said. "I am fully against the way this has been handled."
Public commenter Mackenzie Stolzenburg addresses the Ypsilanti City Council in support of Dzanc House at city hall on Nov. 18, 2025.
Alongside supporting local artists in the Washtenaw County area, public commenters expressed that Dzanc House itself brought more people into the city of Ypsilanti. Sarah Nisbett, a live sketch artist and illustrator, spoke on her experience hosting an exhibit with the group.
"We had so many people come through the doors, draw each other, sit down, laugh and connect. Strangers left as friends, and it created such beautiful connections," Nisbett said. "It's not just unique to me; it's what happens at the Dzanc House every day."
"I didn't come to Ypsi a lot before the opening of Dzanc House, and now I come here all the time. I go to workshops and check out the exhibits, and I bring friends with me. We go downtown, we shop, and we spend money at the bars. If we're measuring value by money, Dzanc House is very valuable," said Nisbett.
The Ypsilanti City Council and City Manager, Andrew Hellenga, agreed to allow Dzanc House to operate while the group works to bring their organization into compliance with the city, including acquiring a Certificate of Occupancy and making the building itself more accessible.
"We do want to see this move forward and for this to be rectified," said Nicole Brown, the mayor of Ypsilanti. "It is all of our responsibility to keep a close eye on making sure this works."
Dzanc House will continue to operate while the group works alongside the city to mend the zoning issue. Currently, the group has two calls for art out to the community for those who wish to participate in Dzanc's Joy Exhibition, as well as solo and group shows next year. Both applications are due Nov. 30, 2025.
LGBTQ+ youth of Ypsilanti are also invited to participate in "Beyond the Binary," a multimedia showcase featuring student artwork.
"I could go on and on," Moore said. Alongside the two exhibitions and showcase, Dzanc House will continue to hold workshops for local artists. "Our gallery really creates a nice space for our events."
More information on Dzanc House and its events can be found on the group's website at dzanchouse.org.
Editor's note: Ameera Salman, news editor at The Eastern Echo, and Madison Cantrell, arts editor at The Eastern Echo and editor-in-chief of Cellar Roots, both provided public comment at the Nov. 18, 2025, Ypsilanti City Council meeting. Neither Salman nor Cantrell contributed to this article.
