<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">I am way behind on checking my emails so I apologize if this idea was already brought up or not really what this chain is about --- if you are looking for something to put in vacant space - what about Riverdale's own community center of some sort? (is there enough space)? With various classes and events and outings (and space for 4 H meetings that was suggested earlier today)... just a thought...I realize the county would have to get in on this one, which may or may not be doable...</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Karen <BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: Edwin Roth <rotheroa@verizon.net><BR>To: towntalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 9:48:55 PM<BR>Subject: [RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams and Possibilities<BR><BR>
<DIV>Hi everyone,<BR><BR>My name is Carla, and we are relatively ( 3 yrs) new residents to this <BR>great community. I have been in the back ground reading this and other <BR>discussions on the state of the town center re-development . I am <BR>extremely grateful for all the hard work everyone in the community has <BR>done regarding this issue.<BR><BR>While this might seem like a overly simplistic remedy, to a vastly <BR>complex issue, I do agree with Emily that perhaps doing something to <BR>the facades of the vacant buildings, might aid in the redevelopment of <BR>the area.<BR><BR>Years ago, the 9th & G areas of Washington DC, were home to many <BR>artists and artist hang outs- like DC Space, the WPA, 9:30 club, <BR>various artist lofts. I think this artistic atmosphere added greatly <BR>to its selling potential in the end. I have seen much the same in <BR>other neighborhoods in
Seattle. Neighborhoods like Belltown or Ballard <BR>in Seattle, were havens for artists and by showing art and involving <BR>community, changed the environment entirely.<BR><BR>Like the staging of a house, to up the selling potential, perhaps it <BR>could be the same for Riverdale Town center. Perhaps Jemal Douglas <BR>would be interested in promoting artists and improving the look of the <BR>area, by supporting such a program. If anything, it might boost <BR>morale and provide another forum for the community to gather and <BR>discuss its issues.<BR><BR>I will bring this idea up with the representative in my ward, asking <BR>him some questions on this issue, and if this can be a possibility <BR>given the current state of affairs.<BR>But in the mean time, I have posted two brief statements and the links <BR>of two organizations, that both have programs to put art in vacant <BR>buildings
windows.<BR><BR><BR>Boston Art Windows (BAW) is a joint project of Mayor Thomas M. <BR>Menino, the City of Boston, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), <BR>local artists, and property and business owners.<BR>This project is an effort to display cutting-edge art installations in <BR>the windows of commercial property in downtown Boston, and aims to <BR>increase the diversity and vitality of this important part of the city.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/baw/about.html" target=_blank>http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/baw/about.html</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>As part of the revitalization efforts in Downtown Baltimore, a program <BR>has been initiated to display local artists' original artwork in the <BR>street-level windows of vacant buildings and in the lobbies of selected <BR>office buildings. The program, called Baltimore Exposure, is being <BR>facilitated by a local curator and by the Downtown Partnership of <BR>Baltimore
(DPOB) which is a non-profit, area improvement corporation. <BR>The local BOMA (the Building Owners and Managers Association) is <BR>lending support through publicity and donations of manual help. The <BR>program is made financially possible by grants from the Mayor's <BR>Advisory Committee on Art and Culture and the Maryland State Arts <BR>Council. There will be an opening reception, July 6, 2000, to coincide <BR>with the Downtown Spring Festival and the work will remain on display <BR>until sold or until building development plans change.<BR><BR><A href="http://www.tfaoi.com/articles/anne/ae8.htm" target=_blank>http://www.tfaoi.com/articles/anne/ae8.htm</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Carla Figueroa</DIV>
<DIV>Hi everyone, <BR><BR><BR>My name is Carla, and we are relatively ( 3 yrs) new residents to this<BR>great community. I have been in the back ground reading this and<BR>other discussions on the state of the town center re-development . I<BR>am extremely grateful for all the hard work everyone in the community<BR>has done regarding this issue. <BR><BR><BR>While this might seem like a overly simplistic remedy, to a vastly<BR>complex issue, I do agree with Emily that perhaps doing something to<BR>the facades of the vacant buildings, might aid in the redevelopment of<BR>the area. <BR><BR><BR>Years ago, the 9th & G areas of Washington DC, were home to many<BR>artists and artist hang outs- like DC Space, the WPA, 9:30 club,<BR>various artist lofts. I think this artistic atmosphere added greatly<BR>to its selling potential in the end. I have seen much the same in<BR>other neighborhoods in
Seattle. Neighborhoods like Belltown or<BR>Ballard in Seattle, were havens for artists and by showing art and<BR>involving community, changed the environment entirely. <BR><BR><BR>Like the staging of a house, to up the selling potential, perhaps it<BR>could be the same for Riverdale Town center. Perhaps Jemal Douglas<BR>would be interested in promoting artists and improving the look of the<BR>area, by supporting such a program. If anything, it might boost<BR>morale and provide another forum for the community to gather and<BR>discuss its issues. <BR><BR><BR>I will bring this idea up with the representative in my ward, asking<BR>him some questions on this issue, and if this can be a possibility<BR>given the current state of affairs. <BR><BR>But in the mean time, I have posted two brief statements and the links<BR>of two organizations, that both have programs to put art in
vacant<BR>buildings windows. <BR><BR><BR><BR><bold>Boston Art Windows (BAW) </bold> is a joint project of Mayor<BR>Thomas M. Menino, the City of Boston, the Boston Redevelopment<BR>Authority (BRA), local artists, and property and business owners.<BR><BR>This project is an effort to display cutting-edge art installations in<BR>the windows of commercial property in downtown Boston, and aims to<BR>increase the diversity and vitality of this important part of the city.<BR><BR><BR><bold><A href="http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/baw/about.html</bold" target=_blank>http://www.cityofboston.gov/bra/baw/about.html</bold</A>><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>As part of the revitalization efforts in Downtown Baltimore, a program<BR>has been initiated to display local artists' original artwork in the<BR>street-level windows of vacant buildings and in the lobbies of<BR>selected office buildings. <bold>The program, called
Baltimore<BR>Exposure</bold>, is being facilitated by a local curator and by the<BR>Downtown Partnership of Baltimore (DPOB) which is a non-profit, area<BR>improvement corporation. The local BOMA (the Building Owners and<BR>Managers Association) is lending support through publicity and<BR>donations of manual help. The program is made financially possible by<BR>grants from the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Art and Culture and the<BR>Maryland State Arts Council. There will be an opening reception, July<BR>6, 2000, to coincide with the Downtown Spring Festival and the work<BR>will remain on display until sold or until building development plans<BR>change.<BR><BR><BR><bold><A href="http://www.tfaoi.com/articles/anne/ae8.htm" target=_blank>http://www.tfaoi.com/articles/anne/ae8.htm</A><BR><BR><BR><BR></bold><BR><BR>Thanks, <BR><BR>Carla Figueroa</DIV></DIV>
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