Council to Vote on Arts District Thursday

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, February 09, 2011

The Williamsburg City Council will decide Thursday whether to designate part of the city as an Arts District.

Council delayed its decision at its Jan. 13 meeting after several citizens expressed doubt about the proposal, with many complaining that not enough information was made available to the public. The city hosted a subsequent public meeting on Jan. 31 to clear up any confusion about the intent of the arts district designation.

The proposed arts district would be where Richmond Road meets Lafayette Street. Any individual working in what the city calls a “creative economy” business could benefit by locating his or her business in that corner of the city; this could include creative professions from sculpture to software design to culinary arts.

The city has spent more than a year working to develop an arts district ordinance that would designate part of the city as eligible for tax and fee reductions for arts-related businesses. Would-be businesspeople starting or expanding an arts business would receive a five-year Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL), sales tax reductions and fee waivers for qualified businesses.

At the Jan. 31 meeting, Economic Development Director Michele DeWitt said the district would revitalize the designated area in the city, support the city’s economic drivers and help fill commercial vacancies.

While many citizens initially misunderstood parts of the plan, several wondered why the district is needed and whether it would be successful. Audience members at the public meeting also questioned how arts businesses would draw tourists, worried that the arts businesses could crowd out existing businesses and were concerned the district would affect zoning or architectural guidelines. Many were unaware that in 2008, the city adopted an ordinance for several parts of the city allowing artists to make and sell art from their homes.

Council’s meeting will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Stryker Building.