The Chaldean Community Center Takes Shape
The future site of the Chaldean Community Center.
By Cal Abbo
Last year, the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) and the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce (CACC) announced plans to renovate The Corners, a former school building at Walnut Lake and Inkster Roads. The newly acquired property in West Bloomfield will serve as the headquarters for the CACC and will also house other affiliated organizations. Including the acquisition of the property and the planned renovations, the project boasts a total price tag of around $15 million. The new center will be funded by a combination of state grants and as a charitable campaign.
This isn’t the CCF’s first rodeo with building. Right now, after years of planning, a massive affordable housing development is being constructed in Sterling Heights, and the CCF plans to renovate parts of its Sterling Heights headquarters. Even more affordable housing projects are being discussed internally.
Saroki Architecture, led by renowned architect Victor Saroki, was chosen to design and architect the renovations for the new headquarters. The firm has designed dozens of commercial and residential constructions in the metro Detroit area and is well-known in the Chaldean community for their work on projects like Shenandoah Country Club, several Plum Markets, and many restaurants.
The CCF awarded the work to Jonna Construction, which began interior demolition in late 2023. Like Saroki Architecture, Jonna Construction is well-known in the Chaldean community for their diligent planning and quality work. The firm has constructed and renovated many corporate large-scale developments as well as community cornerstones like Shenandoah Country Club and the grotto at St. Thomas Chaldean Church.
The CACC plans to move its headquarters into a portion of the building by the end of this year. The full-scale grand opening of the new Chaldean Community Center is planned for next year. With more than 40,000 square feet to accommodate, the facility will include many different features for the Chaldean community to enjoy and explore.
While the CCF has a large and well-developed presence in Macomb County through its Sterling Heights location, it will attempt to match that effort in Oakland County through its project in West Bloomfield. The communities, however, have different demographics and different needs, which will inform the new location’s specific offerings.
On average, Chaldean residents in Macomb County are newer to the United States, and their needs tend to focus on acculturation to American society through things like legal services, job placement, and classroom instruction. On the other hand, Chaldean families in Oakland County have likely been in the U.S. for a generation or two, and their needs center on business services and cultural preservation.
TV Studio, Radio Station, and Demonstration Kitchen
After acquiring the Chaldean News several years ago, the CCF expanded the publication to include plenty of digital offerings including podcasting and video reporting. While these initiatives have shown promise, it’s difficult to launch digital deliverables without a studio or equipment. A new studio, set up with both TV and radio for podcasts, will rectify the problem and provide the necessary support to take the Chaldean News to the next level. The radio station will also become the new base and operating headquarters for the Chaldean Voice, a popular weekly program that currently airs on AM radio.
Finally, the CCF will build a full-scale demonstration kitchen, including space for a live audience. This will help its mission to preserve and share Chaldean recipes and techniques, making it easy for anyone to learn our culinary traditions.
Business Incubator
The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce launched its first venture capital fund in 2020 with an aim to raise money from its members. Ark Angel Fund (AAF) vetted hundreds of companies and invested in seven of them, ranging from an up-and-coming shoe brand that uses recycled materials to a telehealth company that uses Virtual Reality headsets to treat mental health issues. In addition, the Fund has launched its second iteration, AAFII, with an investment goal of $2.5 million.
The CACC has ambitious plans to provide basic business services to Chaldean startups as well as companies in the existing portfolio. The business incubator will include computers, software, work spaces for start-ups and space for existing portfolio companies to work as well.
Chaldean Cultural Center, Bishop Ibrahim Library, and Theater
The Chaldean Cultural Center (CCC) is currently located inside Shenandoah Country Club, but efforts are underway to move it to the new facility once complete. The unique museum houses plenty of exhibits, records, and archives about Chaldeans from ancient times until now. At the new Chaldean Community Center, the allotted area for the CCC is more than twice its current size. Most of the items currently displayed in the museum will be moved to the new location, but the Chaldean Cultural Center is planning a redesign, including additional galleries and new exhibits to accommodate the new space.
Coupled with the Chaldean Cultural Center’s move, the addition of the Bishop Ibrahim Library will make the new center a hub for culture and history. The library will contain original manuscripts, some dating back to the first century, and will provide a quiet place to study and conduct research.
The Chaldean Community Center will also include a 90-seat theater fit for a variety of programming like movie screenings from the CCC, large presentations, and community town hall meetings.
Lobby, Outdoor Seating, and Gymnasium
The CCF is building an extensive 2,000 square foot lobby area for the new campus and will include a small outdoor area with tables and chairs. This will allow the CACC and all the affiliated organizations to better serve its members by hosting events in their own space.
When it was still functioning, The Corners had a gymnasium that has since fallen into disrepair. The CCF will renovate and expand it to include a larger basketball court and increased functionality. The CCF plans to host programs for seniors and youth to be able to stay active as well as offering another event space in addition to the lobby.