In Thursday’s (4/7) Baltimore Sun, Edward Gunts reports, “Baltimore’s west side would become the city’s third arts and entertainment district under a proposal endorsed by Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake for making the area more of a cultural hub. The new district would join state-designated arts districts in the Station North and Highlandtown areas as magnets for galleries, theaters, studios and other arts-related activities and investment. Such a designation also would make certain business and property owners eligible for tax breaks. … City leaders are seeking a $250,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help develop plans for the proposed west-side arts district, including boundaries and eligibility requirements for participation, and to determine how the new district could be connected to the existing arts districts. … City leaders contend that Baltimore is just the right size and location to show how arts districts can help attract creative residents, improve the quality of life and revitalize urban areas with new businesses and jobs. … If funded, the planning process for a west-side arts district would start in July and take a year to complete, which means a formal plan could be ready for state consideration by the second half of 2011.”
Posted April 8, 2010
