Matt Naimi of Dreamtroit and the Lincoln Street Art Park

Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace · Mar 19, 2026 · 36m

What if the key to building community in a city is throwing a great party?

In this episode of Closer, Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace talk with Detroit’s self-described “garbage man,” Matt Naimi, whose recycling center unexpectedly became one of the city’s most vibrant civic spaces. What began as Recycle Here!evolved into the Lincoln Street Art Park and eventually Dreamtroit, a mixed-use community for artists, makers, and neighbors.

Matt shares how saying yes to artists, removing money from gatherings, and keeping the doors open to everyone can transform overlooked spaces into places where…