Title
Creative District Boundary Revisions Recommendation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a Committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the recommended boundary revisions and forward to Council for consideration.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the recommended boundary revisions and forward to Council for consideration.
Staff Contact:
Marygrace Goddu, Inspire Olympia Program Manager, Office of Community Vitality, 360.480.0923
Presenter(s):
Marygrace Goddu, Inspire Olympia Program Manager, Office of Community Vitality David Hoekje, Creative District Project Manager, Olympia Artspace Alliance
Background and Analysis:
Initially established in 2019, Olympia’s downtown Creative District was recently re-certified through 2029 by the Washington State Arts Commission. Plans for Creative District work in the coming year include a re-drawing of the district boundaries, which were developed in 2017 by grouping character areas from the Downtown Strategy. The “Artisan Tech” and “Theater and Entertainment” areas identified in the Strategy constituted the starting point for Olympia’s Creative District.
A recommendation to adjust the district’s boundaries to include active areas outside the lines of the district as originally drawn, to omit inactive areas, and to encompass the Armory Creative Campus, were discussed during the Creative District Strategic Planning effort undertaken in 2022-23 and included in that report’s recommendations.
Project Manager for the Olympia Artspace Alliance David Hoekje is supporting continued Creative District development through outreach, community building, programming, branding and promotion. Moving ahead with revisions to the district boundary is important for the success of this work. He will present proposed district adjustments and describe the thinking behind the changes.
Climate Analysis:
Our Creative District is an integral part of our downtown. Elements that help to create a vibrant downtown also help contribute to climate action. Focusing growth and activity into dense neighborhood areas helps reduce dependance on cars, thereby cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
The creative economy is a defining feature of the character of downtown Olympia. The Creative district supports and encourages creative businesses and cultural nonprofits and works to ensure that everyone is able to experience a strong sense of community while contributing to and benefiting from a healthy downtown economy that serves everyone.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
This item is of interest to Downtown Olympia, with regional impact.
Financial Impact:
There are a number of small contracts associated with Creative District work that are held in the Economic Development Department. There is no additional funding request for Creative District work at this time.
Options:
1. Approve the recommended boundary revisions and forward to Council for consideration.
2. Do not approve the recommended boundary revisions and forward to Council for consideration.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
Revised Boundary Map