Heart of The Arts Initiative

Tuesday, November 15 was the last of four community meetings concerning the HEART OF THE ARTS NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE. The following is a summary of the plan:

1) Create Branding for the District, Incorporate Into Everything
Introduce and promote a new marketing theme.
Install banners, signage and provide directions to area attractions.
Start a newsletter and/or a website with regular updates.

2) Create an Entity to Enact Change, Like a Cultural Trust
Select a coordinator/committee to oversee efforts.
Set up a trust for art and neighborhood improvement fundraising.
Recruit new artisans, businesses, and housing for the area.
Organize meetings of neighborhood organizations and business groups.
Be involved in appropriate redevelopment in adjacent neighborhoods.
Scrutinize development proposals, organize/fight inappropriate ones.
Participate in rezoning that can help support neighborhood.

3) Improve the Streetscape
Provide adequate sidewalks.
Encourage new public spaces: Plazas, Performance Venues and Trails.
Install well designed lighting, street furniture, signage and street trees.
Locate buildings close to the street.
Minimize parking lots, share parking between users.
Hide service areas and dumpster pads.
Incorporate public art at venues, plazas, green spaces and trails.
Slow vehicular traffic in areas of pedestrian activity.

4) Improve Connections Between Nodes of Activity
Improve streetscapes throughout the neighborhood.
Extend of Young Avenue into the Fairgrounds site.
Incorporate bicycle routes throughout the area.
Extend Florence Street from Overton Square to Overton Park.
Design for Madison Avenue Light Rail.
Extend Court Street from Home Depot to McLean Street.

5) Add Housing/Employment for Artists, Medical and Downtown Workers
Continue to promote diversity of people, places and opportunities.
Bring more arts organizations to the Heart of the Arts District.
Encourage shops to stay open late.
Create flexible outdoor areas for performances and public park spaces.
Create artist live/work, lofts, and performance/artist quarters.

6) Concentrate Commercial Redevelopment at Key Places
Focus on Overton Square as the center of the district.
Redevelop the West Precinct and Turner Dairy sites properly.
Concentrate redevelopment at intersections of major streets.
Encourage residential along portions of Union and Madison Avenues.