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That would defeat the entire movement we have going now of having a genuine, independent, downtown, sparse as is it.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Embarrassed by High Street
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somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Posted 2 years ago # -
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Maybe you're describing your idea in a way that isn't what you mean. Are you looking at it like Walker, but replace artists with start-ups? That I understand and could be interesting. A lot of the startups that would lend vibrancy to downtown require more than just 4 walls though. If there was a way to have some kitchens in these places, that might be something that could get some traction. To me, "fake" meant Playskool downtown and that just seems awful.
ETA: I missed a bunch of posts where you clarified, sorry. My push and desire to start my own place was driven by the appeal of super low rent. The opportunity didn't pan out, but overhead is a big barrier of entry (hence the rise in the # of food trucks in the last few months). Figure out some way to give potential biz owners who are motivated and want to stay downtown a break and it could work. Where the subsidies come from, who knows, lol. I also think there needs to be strategic places where this happens. We need to cut an active path linking our current downtown hotspots and infill from there. High Street is important and where the City is focused, but we've got great pockets east of High already. If you could put 2 or 3 more points of interest in the 10 or so blocks between DF/LP and Gay St you'd make those sections more easily walkable and thus "feel" more connected.
Posted 2 years ago # -
cc
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That is what I am trying to describe, but constantly being moved around to mix things up. I think Rory had a good title for it 'Pop up anything'. There would be artists too. Anything goes - but only for a limited time at any location.
I think the kitchens would have to be mobile like food carts...but allowing for indoor amenities.
Posted 2 years ago # -
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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10sun wrote >>
I actually looked at the fake storefronts as a good idea.
Themed galleries / art installations.
A pet store of paintings. A diner with small sculptures at every booth.
An urban Walmart of mixed media collages.
Confuse people a little bit.It's cool, but what good does that do you at 10pm on a Friday night when you're looking for something to do?
Posted 2 years ago # -
10sun
Columbus, OH
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somertimeoh wrote >>
10sun wrote >>
I actually looked at the fake storefronts as a good idea.
Themed galleries / art installations.
A pet store of paintings. A diner with small sculptures at every booth.
An urban Walmart of mixed media collages.
Confuse people a little bit.It's cool, but what good does that do you at 10pm on a Friday night when you're looking for something to do?
It doesn't stop you from doing things at 10pm on Friday.
It would make parts of town not as sketchy looking.
It MIGHT stimulate some growth nearby by cleaning up the neighborhood.Posted 2 years ago # -
HeySquare
German Village
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somertimeoh wrote >>
10sun wrote >>
I actually looked at the fake storefronts as a good idea.
Themed galleries / art installations.
A pet store of paintings. A diner with small sculptures at every booth.
An urban Walmart of mixed media collages.
Confuse people a little bit.It's cool, but what good does that do you at 10pm on a Friday night when you're looking for something to do?
Well... it creates a bridge. If you are walking, and there is always something interesting to look at or wonder about, you continue to walk. If you hit a point where there is a barrier (natural, man-made, or mental) you will stop and question whether you want to go forward to not. There is a few blocks between Barrio and the Hyatt at the convention center that are kind of a barrier, because you can't really see anything good north on High from that point.
Posted 2 years ago # -
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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I guess I'm just not that interested in store fronts, I'm interested in seeing bodies.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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somertimeoh wrote >>
I guess I'm just not that interested in store fronts, I'm interested in seeing bodies.Actually, I think a gallery space would achieve both. Many art galleries aren't open every day of the week, so part of the time it would function as a "storefront" display space and certain nights during events, openings, closings, etc, it would function as an event/retail space.
Posted 2 years ago # -
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Walker wrote >>
somertimeoh wrote >>
I guess I'm just not that interested in store fronts, I'm interested in seeing bodies.Actually, I think a gallery space would achieve both. Many art galleries aren't open every day of the week, so part of the time it would function as a "storefront" display space and certain nights during events, openings, closings, etc, it would function as an event/retail space.
I'm sure you're right. I'm just bitter coming off a weekend in a place that shouldn't kick our downtown butts but totally did. Feel "put in my place" so to speak.
Posted 2 years ago # -
MikeReed
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I am mostly talking about larger spaces with a work studio component that also has space to showcase work over galleries. We are sorely in need of workspace in this town. One way to increase the draw of these work spaces is to be intentional about their location/proximity- that has not happened. The few spaces that do exist are strewn out all over the city- opportunity knocked in the form of reasonable accommodation combined with a workable cost (rent) without geographic coincidence which is unfortunate. Artists/Creatives are great at making things work and building from the ground up, but I wish there were more focus on long term strategies in present efforts.
You are probably right that many artists would agree that having that semi-mobile gallery space like the kind you describe would be a benefit. I'm saying they are wrong.
I suppose on the one hand they are an opportunity for artists who don't have access to spaces where work is traditionally seen. On the other hand... if the work isn't ready to be seen in places where Art is to be seen, perhaps time is better spent for the artist in honing the work and making it really, really great. I tend to gravitate toward the later these days which is a complete and total reversal in my past sensibilities and even counter to some of the pivotal things I have helped to create. However, it is my experience with how those creations unfolded and continue to unfold that have brought me to my current thinking. Momentum is fantastic until someone steers the ship in the wrong direction. Then you can end up with a whole lot of steam behind a bad idea... or the poor execution of good idea misunderstood. An option that might possibly a greater benefit to artists at a very early stage is an opportunity to apprentice rather than walls upon which to hang immature (in the sense of developed concepts) works of art. This will ultimately improve their work, the benefit clearly goes to the artist in question, and there aren't any economic interests tangential to the Arts involved.
There is a subtlety to my comments on this popup gallery idea that I think is being over-simplified by stating it as "Developer using creatives." It isn't that so much as it is suggesting that while there is something to be gained in in what you propose, there is also a potential cost- opportunity cost. The only risk in getting on board with popup spaces from the artist/creative point of view is the opportunity cost from a resource/time/effort perspective. Time/resource/effort spent on anything ad-hoc is time/resource/effort not spent an an intentional Arts district with real incentives designed to attract artists, that can evolve into a compelling destination, and can ultimately serve both a permanent Arts role as well and allowing for proximate ad-hoc/popup spaces as an option for emerging artists. One could also argue about free milk and a cow- if you want what we've got... cut us in. If you don't, fine. Let's not pretend that "business" people are doing creatives this huge favor by letting them use physical space. I'm suggesting that creatives stop thinking of it this way and work together to be a little more discerning and demanding. Temporary popup opportunities are diversions- of resource, of energy, and of effort.
Now there are folks who will get all bent about my stance on all of this- that I'm poo-pooing things. I wouldn't poo poo something that was a well thought out long term strategy that helped to revitalize an area and also was a real win for creatives. I'm not naysaying for sport. I'm suggesting that we can do more, we can create real opportunities, and everyone can win... and that we all insist on solutions that have such an outcome- and hold out for them... and reserve our bright minds, interesting ideas, and combined efforts for them.
Anyway, if something is to be done- it would be fantastic if we could get really intentional about an Arts district specifically for the union of these activities: making art (studio space, apprenticeship opportunities, residencies), appreciating art (show-oriented gallery, exhibition space, space for invited artist/events), buying art (sale-oriented gallery space and storefronts), and possibly live/work space. Getting intentional means allocating the space, ensuring that a reasonable portion of that allocation will always remain Arts related and affordable (permanent trust or similar), creating financial opportunity for people to set up businesses, and for those with easy access to resource to be reasonably willing to share even a little in the wealth with those who are willing to do the on-the-ground work. My experience suggests that many of the resource-having parties in that dynamic will provide "opportunities" to work for small short term gains or for free (often disguised by the term "sweat equity"- but equity means ownership, not a price break...). Budding deals break up quickly when you start talking about payment or even a tiny sliver of a stake in the long term game.
Not to suggest that even with permanence there isn't potential peril. Evidence suggests otherwise. This is a great read on The Torpedo Factory for anyone interested in the unique challenges associated with a large Arts space (http://alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/recreation/arts/TORPEDO%20FACTORY%20STUDY%20Final%202.2.10.pdf). It's been there for 35 years... since 1974 and it wasn't until 1998 that the risk of private ownership was realized (a seemingly benevolent private owner suddenly wanted market rent rates) and the city had to step in to save things. No matter how good private ownership looks today- people retire, their causes shift, things change- and an investment is an investment is an investment. Now there are some tough questions being asked in Virginia about the viability of that space over the long haul.
(edited URL)
Posted 2 years ago # -
rus
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somertimeoh wrote >>
Walker wrote >>
somertimeoh wrote >>
I guess I'm just not that interested in store fronts, I'm interested in seeing bodies.Actually, I think a gallery space would achieve both. Many art galleries aren't open every day of the week, so part of the time it would function as a "storefront" display space and certain nights during events, openings, closings, etc, it would function as an event/retail space.
I'm sure you're right. I'm just bitter coming off a weekend in a place that shouldn't kick our downtown butts but totally did. Feel "put in my place" so to speak.
Where was that? What made it so good?
Posted 2 years ago # -
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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rus wrote >>
somertimeoh wrote >>
Walker wrote >>
somertimeoh wrote >>
I guess I'm just not that interested in store fronts, I'm interested in seeing bodies.Actually, I think a gallery space would achieve both. Many art galleries aren't open every day of the week, so part of the time it would function as a "storefront" display space and certain nights during events, openings, closings, etc, it would function as an event/retail space.
I'm sure you're right. I'm just bitter coming off a weekend in a place that shouldn't kick our downtown butts but totally did. Feel "put in my place" so to speak.
Where was that? What made it so good?
Lexington, KY. I liked that rather than a dead central business district competing with a vibrant central entertainment district, it seemed everything was blended. So you'd have a few bars/restaurants clustered, walk a few blocks and have another, walk a few more, etc. And there was a big focus on keeping people outside (with no more space than we have on our sidewalks - less in many cases). Made it feel more lively than it probably really was, but perception is reality...
Posted 2 years ago # -
JonMyers
HCMC, Vietnam ✈
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Somertimeoh, I felt the same way when I visited Lexington and saw how their Chamber of Commerce was integrated with the several co-working facilities.
Maybe Lexington recognizes they have to work a lot harder and are doing something about it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
MikeReed
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Lisa... You were right. One simply cannot compare Columbus to Toronto.
If Columbus is a "City" the Toronto must be considered a Metropolis. It's unreal and awesome.
Lots of thoughts on this, but what i notice most because of my interests is that Toronto is filled with actual commuter cyclists. There are bikes everywhere. I've seen no fewer than 6 women in dresses biking today. All of the bikes you see locked up are outfitted for commuters. There may be weekend warriors here, i don't know- but there are actual commuters here riding on the streets day in and day out and lots of them... And i mean everywhere, as opposed to Columbus where there are a minority of commuters and a lot of people who live in BFE and maybe some people who carry their bikes in on bike racks and pretend.
But, yeah. No comparison- and in a way where you just know we are not headed in this direction despite any of the talk about how much progress or how many good things are happening. Not even in 30 years. No way.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Hell, they haven't even sharrowed High St south of Nationwide Downtown, let alone include sharrows on all the newly resurfaced downtown roads (see Long, Spring, and 4th). Why, that would cost...a pittance.
And maybe I'm just too forward thinking, but when you have no on-street parking for cars, that's when you go out of your ways to accommodate other modes of transportation: easily visible scooter parking off of all intersections along High and plenty of bike racks right on High. But hey, we're going to ensure cheap parking and offer a brand new highway that removes access to Downtown and funnels you out to the burbs making Yonge St weep: take that Toronto!
Posted 2 years ago # -
cbustransit
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well...south of nationwide, there are supposed to be bike lanes i am pretty sure, if you look at the bicentennial bikeways plan. course they could have added those in resurfacing too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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10sun wrote >>
somertimeoh wrote >>
10sun wrote >>
I actually looked at the fake storefronts as a good idea.
Themed galleries / art installations.
A pet store of paintings. A diner with small sculptures at every booth.
An urban Walmart of mixed media collages.
Confuse people a little bit.It's cool, but what good does that do you at 10pm on a Friday night when you're looking for something to do?
It doesn't stop you from doing things at 10pm on Friday.
It would make parts of town not as sketchy looking.
It MIGHT stimulate some growth nearby by cleaning up the neighborhood.Well that would complete the look of the city in 'I am Legend'
Posted 2 years ago #
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