Status of Arts Districts?

[John Guscott]

I was curious about the status of the proposed arts districts in Lakewood.

Last I heard anything on this was in September, when the Sun Post ran an article from Kate Spirgen that indicated the target zones for the districts would be the neighborhoods around the Beck Center, Virginia Marti, and Birdtown.

Today a friend forwarded me a report entitled "From Rust Belt to Artist Belt: Challenges and Opportunities in Rust Belt Cities" by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture. The full report is at http://tinyurl.com/7nwt5w, and the executive summary can be found at http://tinyurl.com/8ubaar.

The report and summary describe many of the natural advantages this area has in order to attract creative individuals as residents, and highlight the various benefits of doing so.

I can't think of any other city in the Cleveland area (except maybe Cleve/University Heights) that has as much of a natural advantage of catering to these types of residents as does Lakewood.

As such, does anyone know what specific actions are now being undertaken by the city or other entities to try to attract artists to the area? Are there any efforts to actively recruit the artist types from around NE Ohio and beyond to the city? Thanks!

[Jim O'Bryan]

I was curious about the status of the proposed arts districts in Lakewood.

John

Not to muddy the waters, but Lakewood Is Art has declared the entire city an Arts District.

While naming the Beck Center, Virgina Marti, and a soon to be named block in Birdtown Arts Districts, seemed to be lowering the bar for work, and slightly myopic.

If we go ten homes south of me, half are artists, or designers. The amount of graphic designers and web designers in Lakewood borders on insane. 4 in the yellow pages on Summit and Morrison alone. Omni building, is filled, Gary is looking at changing the name of the Detroit Cook Building to the Detroit Cooks Arts Building, with 5 in there. 25 professional photographers all of notoriety, then the poets, writers, screen play writers, musicians, producers, clothing designers, textile artists, and on and on and on. As you know we even ahve a really good artists doing podcasts that are to England what Dancing with the Stars is to Americans, out of his attic.

Arts districts are so, yesterday anyway. Everyone has one, like the fondue pot in the basement. I would encourage the city to go farther and declare it an Arts City. While many explain to me about "funding" available for Arts Districts, no one has ever told me they would not be available to a city that declared itself and ARTS CITY.

As for attracting artists, "Arts District" twenty years ago would be new worthy. Today not even worth a mention nationally. However a city that declared itself an ARTS CITY would get national and even international media play if handled correctly.

While you mention Cleveland Heights/University Heights, as others, look at Little Italy, or closer to home, Detroit Shoreway, Wth65 and Detroit with two live theaters, galleries popping up all over that area, would give it a pretty good claim. Lillian Kuri, who I am working with on a variety of Project with The Cleveland Foundation, and one of the founders of The Cleveland Arts Foundation, said "Lakewood Is Art, and their position that the entire city is an Arts District is a natural progression of everything she was trying to do with the Cleveland Arts Foundation."

FWIW


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[Jim O'Bryan]

NEW BUSINESS
Docket 10-29-08 Communication from City Council:
“Creating Cultural Arts Neighborhood Districtsâ€￾

Councilmembers Antonio, Butler and Madigan request consideration of the establishment of a Cultural Arts Neighborhood District Overlay (CANDO) in the Lakewood Zoning Code. (Page 23)

Mr. Grulich summarized CANDO.

Mr. Graham inquired if there was signage. Also stated the need to rework the boundaries for better specificity.

Ms. Karel asked if the Cultural Arts had been defined.

Mr. Siley presented the slide show.

Mr. Einhouse said there was a need to have a vision and then “catch as catch canâ€￾.

Mr. Graham inquired if there were any studies.

Nickie Antonio commented that lots of communities have Arts Districts. The key to success was building the neighborhood communication. She expressed her desire to have community conversations about the districts.

Ms. DL Meckes, 1596 Onondaga, said they needed to have Economic Development information and more community dialogue.

Mr. Tom Bullock, Council, Ward II, recommended a study. He wanted to know of the impact to the existing art galleries.

Mr. Brian Pedaci, 1366 Beach,

Mr. McCartney asked if the apartment buildings had been considered, asking whether loud noise would be permitted in the residential district?

Mr. Graham requested the draft of an ordinance that would deal with the potential noise issue.

Motion made by Ms. Gillett, seconded by Mr. Graham, to APPROVE the pursuit of the department’s CANDO recommendations and report back with an update at the next meeting. All members voting yea, the motion passed.

Motion made by Mr. Einhouse, seconded by Ms. Cierebiej, to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 A.M. All members voting yea, the motion passed.

William Grulich, Chairman

[dl meckes]

Jim, Lakewood needs Arts Districts as much as it needs the Observer.

John, this type of legislation needs time and vetting before it goes back to Council. It's moving, albeit slowly.

You can't simply declare an arts district and be done.

dl

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim, Lakewood needs Arts Districts as much as it needs the Observer.
dl

DL

I am thinking many could argue all sides of this comment.


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[Charlie Page]

The Planning Commission is meeting this thursday, Jan 8. Here's the agenda from the City's web site:


AGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING OF January 8, 2009
LAKEWOOD CITY HALL

PRE-MEETING
6:30 P.M.
LOWER CONFERENCE ROOM

Review docket items

REGULAR MEETING
7:00 P.M.
AUDITORIUM

Roll Call

Approve Minutes of the November 5, 2008 Meeting

Opening Remarks

OLD BUSINESS5
Docket 10-29-08
Communication from City Council:
“Creating Cultural Arts Neighborhood Districtsâ€￾

Follow-up discussion for consideration of the establishment of a Cultural Arts Neighborhood District Overlay (CANDO) in the Lakewood Zoning Code, Including presentation from the Department of Planning and Development.

NEW BUSINESS

Docket 1-01-09
16605 Hilliard Road
Independent Foreclosure Mediators

Maureen B. Joyce, Esq., property owner, requests consideration for approval for a Type B home occupation, pursuant to Code Section 1121.04 (d) as an accessory use in an R1H, Single Family, High Density Residential District.

Adjourn

[Nathan Kelly]

As you see from Charlie's post above, the Planning Commission will be meeting to discuss Arts Districts on Thursday. This is an agenda item that will require continued work and analysis from the Planning & Development Department and the work of engaged citizens over the coming weeks and months.

Thursday's work session on Arts Districts will be to report back to the Planning Commission on some of their questions raised at our last meeting, including a presentation showing where arts-related entities already exist in the city. Please attend and share your views.

[John Guscott]

Thank you, Nathan, Charlie and Jim!

I appreciate the information.

Unfortunately, I cannot make it to the meeting (I will be working at the library until closing), but would like to find out what was discussed, and if there are any action steps planned.

If anyone who reads the LO Deck is going to the Planning Commission meeting, and is willing to post a summary here, that would be great!

[dl meckes]

John-

There are going to be discussions regarding the districting in the near future.

That process is being organized and I'm sure we'll be hearing the details soon.