ARTS ORIENTED REVITALIZATION OF RETAIL AND STOREFRONTS

Discussion about another Arts District in the Westside of Baltimore is continuing even after a grant application to NEA was denied.
The Mayor of Baltimore wants the Westside kickstarted. To that end a ULI planning week is planned for later this fall. I post here a variation of the concept of artists in storefronts which I wrote earlier this year for D:center in the form of a proposed "project":

Problem and Facts Statement

• Many vacant storefronts mar Baltimore’s former downtown retail corridors converting many once bustling streets into ghost town zones even during the day and making walking from one vibrant area to another an unpleasant adventure because of the hazards that come from vacant buildings and empty sidewalks

• Many artists need affordable live-work space

• Baltimore has reached a certain attractiveness among young creative and art oriented people

• The Baltimore D:center is looking for a project that can showcase the power of design thinking

Project Statement

• D:center, with the help of the Baltimore Office of the Promotion and Arts (BOPA), acts as a clearing house for artists who need live work space and would consider enlivening a former first floor retail space in a Baltimore downtown area

• The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPoB) and the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) act as a clearinghouse for property owners who own buildings with vacant first floor retail spaces in downtown Baltimore
• The two clearing houses would collaboratively publish search/offer listings in a similar manner as Craigs List or real estate listings and facilitate agreements to allow a variety of artists and creative professions to occupy the vacant stores for a variety of durations with and without rent payment
• DPoB in collaboration with the City and inside the framework of the existing benefits taxing district would levy certain fees for vacant retail property in certain locations and use the fees to fund and support repair and renovation of vacant retail spaces for use as live-work and studio spaces
• One or several pilot sites will be identified for testing the approach and showing short-term impact and success

Next steps (some assigned in subcommittees of the ad hoc task force):

• Strategic areas with maximum effect in creating a walkable, contiguous and pleasant downtown retail and arts district to be identified
• Creation of a goals/objectives and a Criteria list
• Assessment of spatial needs of various groups of artists and creative professionals for studio, gallery, display, retail and office space suitable for storefront type retail spaces
• Determination of possibilities to levy fees and penalties for keeping first floor retail unoccupied and means to use these fees to be funneled back to owners who would agree to repair/renovation and leasing to artists/creative professionals
• Discuss with BDC and DPoB if they are willing to be clearinghouse
• Identify critical parties for funding and support

Suggested Criteria for Storefront Project

1. Location:

Locations should be strategically located to fulfill one or several of the following criteria:

· Gaps in areas of strength which, once filled, would create contiguous, lively areas

· Strategic intersections or gateways to or from areas of strength to areas of weakness

· Add eventually to a critical mass that can support a arts oriented branding/theme

· Connect to strong art branded places

2. Type of Space

Spaces should be suitable for use as a live work space, gallety, studio or creative office and fulfill one or several of the following criteria:

· Have visibility from the street

· Be protected from the elements (i.e. water proof and be ready for heat)

· Fulfill basic code requirements for life safety codes (egress, fire protection)

· Allow flexibility for artist’s use

Precedents:

San Diego, CA: http://www.sdspace4art.org/about/

Fall River, MA: http://www.fallriverstorefrontartist.org

Pittsfield, MA: http://www.storefrontartist.org/