Lower Garden District AR 2009

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survey title: 2009 Cultural District Annual Report

current report: Default Report

Displaying 16 of 21 respondents

Response Type: Normal Response Collector: New Link (Web Link)

Custom Value: empty IP Address: 74.240.161.17

Response Started: Sat, Jan 30, 2010 12:46:14 PM Response Modified: Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:44:07 PM

1. Name of Cultural District:

Lower Garden District

2. Contact Information for person designated to complete this report on behalf of the local governing authority, if further clarification is needed:

Name: - Lillian Thompson, Vice President

Company/Organization: - Coliseum Square Association

City/Town: - New Orleans

Email Address: - [email protected]

Phone Number: - (504) 302-1561

3. List or describe Cultural District accomplishments for the past year. Information should include progress toward the goals stated in the initial application, and may include status of renovations and other capital projects; infrastructure improvements; marketing efforts; impact on tourism; crime rate, etc.

On March 26, 2009, Coliseum Square Association (CSA) hosted a Cultural District “kickoff” event at the historic St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center on Constance Street. Attended by 40-50 LGD residents and business owners, the purpose of the event was to promote the opportunities afforded by our new designation, and to start a communication network of stake-holders. Gaye Hamilton and Alison Saunders from Baton Rouge, and Alison Gavrell from New Orleans were on hand to describe program specifics. Several new businesses were added to the cultural economy in the LGD in 2009. Most prominent among these is Second Line Stages (SLS), which is nearing completion of a 90,000 square foot film production facility (the first class A studio in New Orleans), scheduled to open early in 2010. While the main soundstage is new construction, SLS used the CD historic rehabilitation tax credits to restore an enormous, long-abandoned masonry warehouse. The city of New Orleans directed approximately $8 million in street improvements to the neglected area around SLS, and we view this infrastructure improvement as inextricably linked to our Cultural District designation. As part of a business recruitment initiative, SLS co-sponsored a workshop on the Louisiana Film Tax Credit with the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) and hosted a series of meetings with CSA, GNO Inc, representation from District B Councilwoman Stacy Head's office, and other stakeholders in LGD economic development. Other major contributors to the LGD’s cultural economy are: • The Music Shed on Euterpe Street, which continues to offer world-class music recording facilities • the New Orleans Photo Alliance (NOPA) on St. Mary Street, one of the city's most significant consortiums of photographic artists • the International School of Louisiana on Camp Street, a French and Spanish immersion K- 8 charter school, devoted to education in the context of global awareness and culture; hosts numerous art and music events open to the entire community • the Roots of Music (headquartered at the Music Shed), whose founder Derrick Tabb was a finalist for CNN’s Heroes award … much of its after-school programming occurs at the Music Shed • the Dark Room on Sophie Wright Place, providing resources and support for local artists • The Pontchartrain Hotel opened after a substantial renovation made possible by Cultural District tax credits. Art-related events that took place in the LGD in 2009: • CSA’s 35th Annual Lower Garden District House Tour took place Oct. 25, promoting preservation of our historic buildings (attendance 175). • In conjunction with the House Tour, “Arts in the Square” featured 17 local artists selling their original artwork in Coliseum Square (attendance 175-200). • LGD art galleries on lower Magazine Street were prominent in the annual Art for Art’s Sake event on Oct. 3 (attendance 400-500). • On December 12 as part of the month-long PhotoNOLA event, “ArtWalk in the LGD” featured five of our galleries and collaboratives (attendance 150-200). • On Sept. 5, the Project 30-90 Green Art and Music Festival was held just inside our district’s river-side boundary (attendance 2,000). • On September 1, “Walk-in Movie Night” at Sophie Wright Park the showed the documentary film “Future of Food” (attendance 150-175) • On May 4, “Fashion in the Park” took place at Sophie Wright Park, combining high fashion with local art, music, and food (attendance 175-200). The bottom line is … our cultural economy is stronger than ever.

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4. List or describe any proposed activities for the upcoming year.

Coliseum Square Association continues to promote the CD designation through our website, and by announcing any and all art-related events in the district through email blasts, and through the creation of an “arts blog” where individual artists can post their own events. One of our main goals for 2010 is to enhance our network of business/homeowner resources to maximize the awareness of CD tax credits to the neighborhood, including hosting workshops on how to apply for CD rehab tax credits. There are several significant development projects in the pipeline for which we are actively promoting the use of tax credits, including an organic grocery and farmers’ market (Hollygrove Market) in an abandoned synagogue on Jackson Avenue, a condo development in an abandoned hospital on Jackson Avenue, two historically significant vacant churches, etc. Additionally: • We will continue promoting art and music events, and are actively engaged in luring into our district in 2010 a prominent existing music festival that may be looking for a new venue. • The Music Shed will be building out another phase of its historic warehouse structure to house an additional soundstage, and we are hopeful that CD tax credits will play a role. • Second Line Stages will be the site of a very large film production in 2010, and we look forward to the continued influx of film/art industry professionals affiliated with SLS and other film- and music-related businesses within the district.

5. Indicate the number of businesses, organizations, individuals, and events taking advantage of the sales tax exemption for original art.

Businesses - 10-15

Organizations - 2-3

Individual Artists - not sure, but we assume some (artists know about the program)

Events - 2-3

6. List any additional local incentives offered to businesses and/or qualifying residing artists in the district.

Hoping to capitalize on the existence of Second Line Stages and The Music Shed in our district, we initiated talks with our city councilwoman about the prospect of Orleans Parish creating a package of tax incentives to attract additional film production to the city in general, and the LGD specifically. The LGD’s proximity to the river, the CBD and the French Quarter already makes it extremely appealing to filmmakers, and our hope is to level the playing field financially with surrounding parishes by encouraging the legislative push for new financial incentives.

7. List and/or describe the impact on property values.

Property values in general have continued to rise in the LGD, as the few remaining pockets of blight are improving. Real estate agents that market actively in our neighborhood are well aware of the Cultural District’s historic rehabilitation tax credits, and make sure that prospective buyers understand the opportunity. At least one very significant historic house – formerly the Catherine Club on Camp Street – was bought out of foreclosure, and we have encouraged the new owners to take advantage of the credits. The Times Picayune reported mid-year that the Lower Garden District is one of the strongest residential real estate markets in the city. Despite our steadily rising property values, the LGD continues to attract a lot of young people and artists, due to the abundance of affordable apartments, and the “edginess” of the neighborhood in general.

8. Indicate the number of building renovation projects begun within the Cultural District in 2009.

Residential - 15-20

Commercial - 8-10

9. Indicate the number and/or percent of vacant buildings; compare this to the vacancy before certification as a Cultural District.

We estimate no more than 3-4% of buildings in the LGD are vacant, and know of at least 6-8 vacant residential buildings and 3-4 commercial buildings that have been bought, renovated, and occupied in the last year.

10. Describe any impacts attributable to certification as a Cultural District. These comments should describe the benefits or value of being a Cultural District related to each of the items below. Be concise. A. Artistic or cultural development - the promotion of the arts, encouraging creativity, attracting artists or other cultural businesses, new artist housing and studio spaces. B. Community development - engaging residents, providing a sense of community, serving as a gathering place, strengthening community partnerships, developing a positive image of your District C. Economic development - revitalizing the

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neighborhood, enhancing property values, stimulating the economy, drawing tourists, establishing new businesses

Very generally, the collaborative efforts we initiated in 2009 to address our new status as a Cultural District have, in and of themselves, opened lines of communication that did not exist previously. More than ever before, LGD residents and business owners view themselves as common stakeholders in the continuing growth of the neighborhood. For decades we have had strong community partnerships, but the CD initiative has really helped bridge the gap between old guard urban pioneers from the 70’s, and the up-and-coming art community that has taken root in the last ten years. A. There is a very strong network in the LGD to promote events of art and culture. CSA contributes through the use of our website and email blasts, Magazine Street merchants’ association promotes area events, NOPA has a very active events blog, etc. B. The LGD has had a strong community presence for decades, originating from a common belief in historic preservation. The CD designation has served to strengthen and diversify relationships as the neighborhood evolves. Residents are more likely to frequent local galleries and shops due to increased awareness, and more art-related events have led to more resident-artist interaction and overlap. Illustrated by the participation of Central City’s Renaissance Main Street Market in our annual House Tour event in October, we recognize the opportunity for outreach to our neighboring Cultural Districts, Irish Channel and Oretha Castle Haley. We hope to build on this spirit of inclusion and collaboration through art and culture. C. As described above, we have created a specific working group to address economic development, and are in close contact with city leaders in this area. We have been actively involved in the Master Planning process to promote the area between Annunciation – where Second Line Stages is located – and the river as a film/recording/ entertainment district. The Master Plan consultants embraced our vision for this neglected area which, by the way, was not part of the LGD local or national historic districts, and thus has access to rehabilitation tax credits only because of the Cultural District program.

11. List quantifiable measurements of cultural activity occuring within the Cultural District such as: positive or negative changes to the number of arts and cultural businesses; galleries opening or closing; changes in number of customers or sales; number of cultural events; attendance; etc. These measures should relate to the purpose of establishing your cultural district and the revitalization of your community by creating hubs of cultural activity.

The “hub” of our cultural activity has long been lower Magazine Street, mostly between Jackson Avenue and Felicity Street. For several years, there has been a fairly high rate of turnover in this commercial stretch and, at any given time, 8-10 vacant store fronts. In 2009, we estimate that 4-5 businesses closed in that stretch of Magazine, and 8-10 opened, several after substantial renovations. There are fewer vacant store fronts (3-4) than at any point in the last 15 years. Among the new businesses, there are 2-3 new art galleries, and the general retail trend is toward art, and edgier retail and home furnishings. Furthermore, the stretch of Magazine downtown from Felicity is showing significant signs of commercial life. Assorted other businesses have opened, including a couple of restaurants on Sophie Wright Place, and a fabulous new African craft shop/social enterprise on Prytania Street, BaBa Blankets. One of our goals for 2010 is to forge a closer relationship with local merchants, as those of us who live in the LGD recognize the importance of a vibrant commercial presence in the neighborhood. We believe most LGD business owners would say that 2009 was a decent year in a down economy.

1. Please describe the organizational structure of your Cultural District. Organizational structure refers to who is responsible for implementing tasks and responsibilities for your district. This may be a local government office, community organization, staff person, volunteer, or other; and may be structured as the responsibility of a single person or a committee or board.

No Response

2. Do you have a plan for the development of your Cultural District? These can include existing plans of city agencies, urban plans, strategic plans, operational plans, etc.

No Response

3. If you answered "YES" to the previous question, please provide a brief description of the type of plan and the key objectives, tasks, financing and cost of implementing the plan. Email related documents to Gaye Hamilton, Cultural District Program Manager in the Office of Cultural Development to [email protected].

No Response

4. Communication within the Cultural District about Tax Incentives These promotional tools would be used within your Cultural District to communicate with individuals, businesses, or organizations selling original works of art, or in regard to historic preservation tax credits. Please indicate which, if any, promotional tools were used by the Local Governing Authority, or designee, to promote the rules and regulations for implementation of the tax incentives. Also, rate the effectiveness of each tool.

No Response

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5. Promotion of the Cultural District to the Public These promotional tools would be used for promoting visibility of the district, encouraging audiences and visitors to the district, engaging residents, developing a positive image of the district, etc. Please indicate which, if any, promotional tools were used to promote the existence of your Cultural District. Also, rate the effectiveness of each tool.

No Response

6. Please rank your top 5 choices for new services that could be provided by the State as it relates to the future development of your Cultural District?

No Response

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