Title
Approval of Creative District Boundary Revisions
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee has recommended approval of a boundary revision for the Creative District.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the proposed Creative District boundary revisions.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the proposed Creative District boundary revisions.
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
Background and Analysis:
Olympia's downtown Creative District was Initially established in 2019 and recently re-certified through 2029 by the Washington State Arts Commission. A requirement for district certification includes setting district boundaries and securing city council approval.
The Downtown Creative District's boundaries were originally set by grouping together two "character areas" identified in the 2017 Downtown Strategy as the "Artisan-Tech" and "Theater and Entertainment" areas. This became the starting point for the Downtown Creative District.
In the 2022 Creative District Strategic Planning process, participants recommended revisiting those original district boundaries. Following up on that recommendation, this year the Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) pursued a combination of outreach and community building that solicited the community's input on boundary revisions as well as their hopes and ideas for the Creative District moving forward.
Through thirty interviews, participants expressed that the district boundaries were unsatisfactory and wanted to see the district reflect the creative community, rather than attempt to define it, and wanted to see the district expanded to be more inclusive.
With this direction, OAA brought forward a revised boundary. It extends to a broader area of Downtown Olympia and includes the Armory, Libra...
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